



19^1 




Class \'S ^iS 



Book 



L^ W^i'rv 



(H)pYli6htN^_ 



tOl'YivlGHT OEPOSrr. 



-->)« A U L 






A TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS, 



•^*BY ADELLA ^, WORDENj-^- 



YPSILANTJ, MICH, 

YPSILANTIAN PRINTING COMPANY. 



^SAUL,^ 



A TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS, 



i-iBY ADELLA ^. WOr^DEN, 



r^tr%j 



Ypsilanti, Michigan. 
1881. 

9 









^-■h 



Entcrcfl according- to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by 

ADELLA R. WORDEN, 

In the OflRco of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 






S.i^TJIL_ 



DRAMATIS PERSON^:. 

Saul, King of Israel. 

Samuel, Seer and Prophet. 

David, ^ 

Eliab, q , - 

. ' ,Son.s to fjesr^e. 

Abinadab 



Shammah, 

JONATHxlN, ^ 

Abinidab, ^SonstoSanl. 

Melchishua, j 

Jesse, father to David. 

Abxp:r, Chief General to Saul. 

Joab, Captain. 

DoEG, Servant to Saul. 

Ahinoam, wife to Saul. 

MiCHAL, ^1 y., , , . ci 1 

^r ' • Dauo;hters to Saul. 

Merab, j ^ 

S()/di(r!<, (/ho.st, [(((J, sons to Jesse. 

ACT I. 

Scene 1 — A rocky defile. 
Enter Arixidab, Melchishua, Soldiers. 

Mel. Another victory for King Saul ! 

Sol. Hail! Hail ! 

Abini Agag, King of the Amalekites, our jnisoner ! 

Sol. Hail! ''Hail! 

Mel. The best of the flocks, and tiie fat of the land — tlie 
spoil of the Hebrews ! 

Sol. Hail! Hail! 

Abini. The cities from Havilah toShur,all sacked; women, 
men, maids and sucklings, slain by our battle clubs! 

Sol. Hail! Hail! 



Enter Samuel ; (ill hoir hi reverence. 

Sam. Wliat's this I hear? Who liath fought th- hattk-s of 
the Lord, and takcth to himself the victory "? 

Enter Abneh and Jonathan. 

Abner-Jon. Tlic holy prophet of Israel ! - 

Ahner. (xod, manifest in the Hesh ! 

Jon. He bring-eth fiitMre events, to be the jxistime of the 
l)resent. 

Sam. Lifted be thine eyes to heaven! Thon'st gotten the 
victory over A'maleU ; has, then, the King of the Hebrews 
taken the cattle of the Amalekites? 

Ahner. Only the best of the sheep, and the oxen, the fat- 
lings and the lambs. 

Sam. Hath the Israelites no biibstance, that they should riot 
in flesh whose holocaust hath never smoked before the Lord ? 

Jon. King Agag is prisonei- to Saul. 

Sa//i. Agag, an Amalek, shown mercy by a Benjamite ! 
The Lord of Hosts shall utterly destroy his kingdom I His 
seed shall stand before Israel no moi'e forevei' ! Where, then, 
is Saul ? 

Abner. In Carmcl, whither \\v has gone to set liim up a 
|)illar, in honor for the victory : he will i)ass this way to (Jil- 
gal. 

S«//(. It is the same the Lord hath showed me of, and who 
shall alter His decree ? Go, thou ; soldiers should be in camp 
when out of battle. I will await the king. 

\_E.v'd AiJNEn, Jonathan, ABiNi])Aii, Soldiers. 

Jeh(>vah Nissi — the altar Moses built with our most holy 
vow u'pon it, set at naught by this, the son of Kish ! Saul ! 
Saul! The night long hath my bruised heart run streaming 
to my eyes, emptying its fullness thntugh this guttered cheek, 
till yet my hoar beard sodden is with woe. The people would 
a king; they sowed in folly. What, then, can the field bear 
wisdom ? Nay, verily, they shall gather into bundles the 
husks of their inadvertence, and who can hinder? Plis head 
I did anoint in royalty. Not enough the throne; in greed 
for battle he assnmcii the right of })riesthood, and offered up a 
sacrifice to tlu- offended Diety ! Saul, thy imj)erial will I 
love, so far as't goes to make a warrior of man ; I see thee to 
the battle, a monarch, none the less a soldier; the shrinking 
earth trembles to mold the footstep of approaching majesty ; 
men fear to think, doubting their own ability before the man- 
date of thv do:nin;uit mind. I said I loved the;' as a warrior 



of men ; but when thy drawn sword is a;i,':r!iist thy maker, 
God, I pity thee, Saul — I pity tiiee ! 

Enter Saul; sees Samuel, sJu-lnls had-. 

I feel it ; thou art near nie, Saul ! 

Said. "Blessed be thou of the Lord ! I htivc performed 
the commandment of the Lord." 

Sam [^sfill turned from Saul] "What meaneth, then, this 
bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen 
wliieh I hear ?'■ 

Said. "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the 
people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice 
unto the Lord, but the rest we have utterly destroyed." 

Scnii [turning^ "When thou wast little in thine own sight, 
wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the 
anointed king over Israel? And the Lord sent thee on a 
journey, and said, 'Go, and utterly <lestroy the sinners and 
the Amalekites, and fight against them till they be consumed.' 
Wherefore, then, did'st thou not obey ? Why did'st thou fly 
upon the spoil, and do this evil in the sight of God ?" 

Said. "Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have 
gone the way he sent me, and have brought Agag, the king of 
Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites ; but the 
people, they took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the 
things which should have been destroyed, to sacrifice unto thv 
God at Gilgal." 

Sam. "-Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt oiferings 
and sacrifices as in obeying" his voice ** "Behold, to obey is 
better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams ; for 
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as in- 
iquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of 
the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king." 

Said. "Sanuiel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the 
commandment of the Lord, and thy words, because I feared 
the people, and obeyed their voice : now, therefore, I pra\' 
thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may wor- 
ship the Lord." 

Sam. I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the 
v>ord of the Lord, and He hath rejected thee from being king. 
[Saul, hi try'uiy to hold SAMUEL,rcuc?.s his garm€nts.~\ 

Thus hath the Loi'd rent thy kingdom from thee this day,and 
hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou ! 
"The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent ; for He is not 
a man, that He sliould rej)ent." 



Saal. 1 liave sinned ; yet honor me before the elders of" my 
people — turn again with me that J may wor.shi}) God. 

Sa7n. I sorrow for tliee, Saul, while yet I live, but no more 
eounsel I tiiy deeds ; it is over, it is past ; he that separateth 
himself from (Jod must abide afar from me, Moses builded 
an altar at Rephidem, vowing before the Lord to \var with 
Amalek from generation to generation, saving nothing iilive 
from among them; as thou hast been unmindful of this oath, 
it is for me, the Aged Propiiet of Israel, to hew the Amalek- 
ite in pieees. Bring hither Agag, the king ! [^Evit Saul. 

Miter soldiers icifJi Agag. 

Agag. "Surely the bitternes of death is past !" 
Sam. "As thy sword hath made women ehildless,soshak thy 
mother be ehihlless among wom^n." [>S7«6.s' him. 

\_Kvit SA>rrEL and soldiers carrying body. 

Enter Saul. 

S«w/. Samuel of Remah [)itiesSaul ! In that he frowned, 
turning in rage from me, I eou'd be-^ecch him baek ; aye, to 
my knees go down, kissing the Patriareli's beard, or in th(! 
dust of his departing robe bury my faee for sorrow of his wrath ; 
but when his blear eyes triekle into streams, a woman leaps 
into a god, the while she warms a lover on her breast, pities 
the dog that fawns about her feet. The Prophet of Israel 
pities Saul! Pities! Wherefore pities? I was a keeper of 
a&ses before I M'as king, and no man [)itied me ! He says I 
am rejected from being king! Is that a cause for pity? Such 
condolence were timely when the crown went on. If I 
must abdicate the throne, Jonathan, my son, will sit upon it ; 
a change of names — Jonathan king ; l,the Conmiander Saul, 
without a change of power ; the sword is sovereign, not the 
scepter, if the Prophet knew it ! Give me my sword, for 
every heart this blade runs through, I'll put a jewel in its 
hilt; a score of victories, 'twill purchase me a crown. I'll 
have a kingdom, and I'll rule it, too ! I lu-re iVA'y both Sam- 
uel and his (iod ! \_Exit. 



■111. 



SCENE \\.— (),ifs1:irfx of licthlehr 
Enter Jksse's son.^, Emai;, Aiuxadat., Shammaii. 

Ahin. What thinkest thou th(> Pro[)lu't S:iinuel hath come 
hither for ? 

Elicd). Our father bade us purily ourselves, as though a 
sacrifice were to be oflercd. 



Sham. 1 greatly iear the Lord hath .>^'.'iit .soiue curse upon 
us for the sins we iiave eomniitted. 

Abin. Surely some pestilence will follow hini, he walks not 
out for naught. 

Sham, I tremble in every joint and part of me; let's to the 
tent, our brethren wait us there. 

Eliab. Yea, let's away or we shall looS the feist! 1 spcak 
speak for a hunk of the thigh ! 

Abin. The'saddle will do for me — 

Sham. And 1 

Eliah \Jauf/]un(/\ Our brother would have the rump ! 

Abin. Ha, ha! Shammuh the rump, the rump! 

\_Exit Eli A]*., Ai^tx, Sham. 

Enter SxYMUEI.. 

Sam. After that I mourned for Saul's transgressions, the 
Lord came unto me, saying: " Fill n;j thine horn with oil, 
and go to Jesse, the Bothlemite, for I have provided me a 
king among his sons. I am come hither the heifer is ready 
to l>e offered." 

Enter Jessj:. ' 

Art thou come alone, Jesse, and where ai'' thy sous ; are they 
not ready for the sacrifice ? 

Jesse. We are sanctified for the ol)lation, iwnX I am come to 
ask thee, holy Samuel, what thou Avilt have us do. 

Sam. I am come hither, not only to burn an offering to the 
Lord, but to select a son of thine, who shall enter, into the 
school of prophets, which is at Himah, until such time as the 
Lord haih need of him. CVill up your eldest son till he pass 
before me. [/i'.r/f Jesse ; re-enter with Eeiab. 

Jesse. This is my son Eliab. 

Sam [ftsifJe'l. Surely the Lord's anointed is bef'ore me. Not 
so — there cometh the counsel of the Lord in mine ears : 
"Look not on his countenance or his stature, because I have 
refused him. Surely mm looketh on the outward appearance, 
but the- Lord looketh on the heart." Bring hither thy sec- 
ond son. [^Exit Jesse ; re-enter with Abtxadab. 

Jesse. This is Abinadab, my son. 

Sam. " Xeither hath the Lord chosen this." 

[^E.rit Jesse; re-enter vith SiiAM^tAif. 

Jesse. Tins is Shammah, my son. 

Sam. "Neither hath the Ijord chosen him." Bring hither 
those that remain. 

[Ts^r/V Jesse ; re-enter irith XATirAXiFJ., Bae[,, Asam. 



Jesse. Tlicse are my sons Natlmniel, Racl, As-Uii. 

Sam. Xeithor hath tlie Lord i>loasiire in these. Are hei'e 
all thy ohiklren ? 

Jesse. " There reniaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he 
keepeth the sheep." 

Sam. " Send and feteh him, for we will not sit down until 
he be come hither." [Exit Jehhe; re-enter with- David. 

Jesse. This is David, my son, keei)er t)f my sheep. 

Sam. This is the chosen of the Lord. David, 1 anoint 
thee in the name of the Lord before these, thy brethren. Go, 
Jesse, with thy sons, to the tent wherein is set the feast ; T will 
shortly come bringing David with me. 

[E.tvY Jesse and sto)i,s. 
David of l>ethlehem, the Lord hath chosen thee keeper of thy 
father's sheep, to be king over Israel. Saul's glory shall iade 
before thy rising greatness ; thy kingdom shall continue ; 
thoushaltover come the Philistines,and with whatsoever nation 
thou slurlt war, thou wilt be the conqueror; thy name shall 
bq exalted before every other name, and thy seed shall be for 
the salvation of the world. Be righteous, l)e obedient to the 
commands (if God, He will instruct thee whither thou shalt 
o-o ; ponder these things in thy lieart and keep the knowledge 
of thy royal anointing till such a time as the J^ord shall make 
it known. The Spirit of Almighty God be on thee, David, 
from this time heneeforth. [Kxeiinf. 

ACT II. 

SCENE L — A room in Saui/s yx/Zrur. 
Vrnfer Jonathan and Abneij. 

Abncr. Siuvly there n)ust be found a quack accpiainted with 
some nostrum, herb, or cheiuical, that will make way with 
this distemper of the king, thy father. 

Jon. The chief jihysicians and the ciders have consulted, 
but they find no ])anacea for the malady ; it seems beyond 
the power of human aid to help him; to his own kin he 
seems so much estranged, as driven to frenzy at our speech. 

Abner. Call you this strange distemper madness? 

Jon. I never knew the title of disease that I should name 
it thus ; what 'tis must have been l»red in hell-j)its, for his 
tongue wags ilemon-like, his blood is fire, his pulse a flash 
which can't be counted, his brain a tangled snarl, which reason 
can't undo. 

Ahnrr. 'Twa'^ tt)Id ine that a ii'avcier iVoni a distant land. 



hearing of the king's delirium, had left some charm or philter 
by which 'twas hoped his reason might return. I would not 
hear its import if the [)rince hath aught against my ears. 

Jon. JJut for thy absence, Abner, thou should'st have been 
the first to know, and borne the message to the tents of Jesse. 

Abner. I would 't had fallen my lot, so much I love the 
king. 

Jon. The traveler was an Ej^yptian necromancer, skilled in 
all the lore of magical achievements ; having heard of the 
king's malady he came hither, asking permission to go before 
him. When we were come into my father's presence he was 
skulked into a corner of the room, bowed like a beast, and 
when I spoke he answered me — a growl. The wizard, after 
considering his countenance, pronounced it demency — the in- 
fluonce of an evil spirit — and advised that we send at once for 
a harp, and have it played before him. 

Abncr. A remedy I'd not mind the taking — ; but how 
could such like means elfect a cure ? 

Jon. He said the demon took a serpent's form, and 'twas the 
venom of his sting that turned the blood to poison ; snakes 
have been known to go through fire to get at music, so he 
urged the evil spirit would be charmed froui Saul. 

Abner. A very likely case; but what hast thou to warrant 
this advice ? 

Jon. A chain of gold about his neck with Pharoah's sig- 
net. 

Abner. It is enough. 

Jon. Through his advice we have sent for David, the son 
of Jesse, who plays upon the harp, and whose music is said to 
have a most peculiar and touching sweetness; he will shortly 
arrive by the messengers we have sent. Let us go out and 
bring him hither when he shall have come. 

\^Exit Jonathan and Abner. 
Enter Saul and Doeg. 

^anl. He said it should be given to a neighbor of mine. 
Who's my neighbor? There is somewhat in this neighbor ! 
Neighbor is, nor son, nor seed — ! I would I found this 
neighbor — I would I found him ! I'll send a challenge out, 
— good men of Israel come fight with Saul, — but I will know 
this gracious fiivorite. Know him ? By Dagon, I could lick 
his blood up and grow fat with the glory of tlie feast ! 

Doeg. The king of Israel in such a puny wrestling as this ! 
The east wind, and destruction after it, but I do laugh to see 
the mighty Saul in such a silly turn. [^TAmghi^.^ 



1 ( ) 

San!. Doctr, thou red-liaired K(l(Mnito, come out of siiufling 
at my heels, and teach me who my neighbor is ! If tliou 
canst pour a sliekcl's weight of reason in this skull, I'll let 
thee in the sanctuary of my soul, where Samuel was wont to 
habitate. There is a throne built of the costliest substance in 
my brainal revenue; there is a shrine where I have gotten in 
the dust to tSanuiel; but in like manner as he made a club of 
me to fight Philistines with, 1 made him Baal to espouse 
my cause! He has gone forth, this carcass is a bellowing 
cave; beasts foul and fire-eyed have come to dwell in it; go 
in, possess and rule me if thou wilt, but tell me first, who is 
my neighbor ! They roar and tear me like a thousands 
sins ; I am become a den, my ribs the bars whereon their tal- 
ons clutch ! Let out thy wit, or they will through the gaj) 
holes of my eyes to make their peace with thee! '' 

Doeg. Thou'st swallowed me already, mighty Saul ; I am 
entombed in thine entrails, henceforth to attend the gall-blad- 
der of thy liver, and when it oozeth out or runneth to thy 
hurt," I'll drink it to thy health, good king; I'll di'ink it to 
thy health, good king! [i« »(//(.■<.] 

Haul. Doeg, I know thee as I know Satan, but I'll let thee 
in till I be comforted a while ; thou hast derided me in merry 
kind, but thou canst no more laugh than any dog ; thou hast 
a sneezing, snickering kind of smirk, that sets thy two teeth in 
a horrid grimace, but thou canst no more laugh 

Doeg. Ha, ha, ha ! 

^aul. What, wilt thou ? (chokes him.) Pish ! Thou'rt a 
grasshopper ! See how I pinch thee! Hop of!*, hop away you 
straddler ; thou art too small a bug for treasonable intent I 

Doeg. Yea, I will hop, and hop, so I do uet monstrous 
space away ! 

Enier Ahixoam and Meeab. 

Aiiin. Good king, my lord! Wilt thou not come into thy 
chamber; 'tis tliree whole days and nights since that thine 
eyes have slept? 

Son/. Shall be given to a neighbor of mine, that is better 
than I ! Belter, I say better! I'll make a feast 

3fer. He talks of eating; 'tis like he perisheth for food. 
I'll ask to pavtake of something. Most royal father — (a-^ide) 

he looks so mad at me — ! Most worthy fa {aside) what a 

fright am I ! — I pray you break this fast ; go out and take 

of drink or nourishment Here comes Michal ; she v>ill 

speak to him. 



11 

Enter MiciiAL. 

Thou art thy father's favorite ; go ask him to partake of 
something to sustain his strength. 

Saul. Hie to I swear by all the gods in stone and 

out of it, if I am damned I'll not he consort M'ith she 
devils ! Get thee out ! 

Mich. My loving father, do not turn your eyes and look so 
fierce and bad, the hand you clench so stained is with blood ; 
here, let me wipe it off, don't strike me, father! Let me 
smooth the wrinkles out that seam your forehead so. My 
hands Avill charm away the pain. 

Baul. Thou'rt pity's self, with pity's gentlest mein. Get 
the agone from me! Pity's a crust, which starving men de- 
vour in their dreams; a fountain in the desert which the fam- 
ished die in sight of; an angel stooj)ing out of Paradise, dim- 
pled and snowy robed, over the darksa.uj valley of perdition ! 
What's this that hath a hold of me? 'Tis like my brain were 
tinder, and every thought a flame. Is there no pit so 
bottomless but red-eyed women come to sniffle over me ? 
Doeg, spike out my eyes ! I'm seven times damned by this 
pitying gaze ! 

Jlich. O, that I should have lived to see my father thus ! 

Akin. My daughters, tis of no avail to tiius contend with 
this distemper of the king thy father ; a devil hath a hold of 
him, and Pd be far from here when it doth leap from him. 

3Ier. Good sister, come; his hands are flesh-hooks and his 
eyes are fire; thou'lt be the sacrifice if thou play(st lamb to 
him ! 

Mich. If thy sweet life; is what thou lovcst most, I bid 
thee go — but more I love my father. 

\_Exit Ahinoam and Mekab. 

Sc/h/. Doeg, I hate this thing, yet I scorn to strike it ! 
Shall Saul stand in a n.iartial attitude to fight a toad? Get on, 
ye i)estering mendicant, get on, I say ! I will not turn a hair's 
In'cadth from my track to save your life! Doeg, get you a 
shovel and take out the plague, its blink eyes coax and whee- 
dle me out o' myself ! 

Doeg. {takes hold of Micpr.) Pretty Princess, let me help 
thee out, to pacify the king ? 

3Iich. Crouch, thou vile Edomite, nor suffer thy rough 
paws to fondle me ! 

Saul. See how it winks and swells itself astride ! Ha, ha ! 
See thou, Doeg; ha, h.a ! J needs must lauiih, though it had 
met me at the gates of hell, and Luciler had hold of me — ! 



Tiie })unv hrat, but I will linii^- my armour on the wall ; it 
doth (leiy the king of Israel ! ! 

3Iich. Have I no word whereby to heal this lei)rosy of 
speech?. Accursed famine when a king need of anything he 
can not buy ! 

[Sound.s of inasic.) 

SduL Had 1 a thousands toads, and they were grown in 
stature to a man, with this same pluck proportionate, I'd not 
stop to parley on the ways or means, but I would set myself a 
very god of earth, and all the world my subjects, (Doeg con- 
tends with Mich.) Away,thou scab ! — I ne'er saw^ toad so fair 
and free from spot, the plague, it pleaseth . me — , I have a 
mind to set it in my court to tease and truekel with ! Toady, 
look up and blink your drowsy lids, I like ye all the better, 
all the more ye wink at me — ! What's this? How camest 
thou in my bed and I asleep? Wouldst thou play harlot, 
and thy incest make of thee a breeder of Moabites ? Not my 
chamber ? Not asleep "^ But thou art Michal — , my beloved 
Michal ! ! {Takes her to his (tnns.) 

Mich. O blessed father, thou art thyself again ! 

Saul. Doeg, when gavest thou me wine to this excess that 
I; be sodden like a fool ? Michal, what's come to me that I 
am out with nature in this kind ? I am awake, and yet I 
dream— It were as though the room . had spirit voices in it, 
a-iid they were whispering, peace, peace!. I seem to stand be- 
fore otfended Heaven,and all the atmos{)here is heavy with the 
incense of holy Samuel's prayers for my poor soul ! {weeps) A 
glory sheds between the rifts of cloud, Mercy enthroned 
speaks my pardon out and I — Saul, am forgiven-r— saved — ! 
saved ! ! {falls.) 

Doeg. The king is dead ! 

Mich. My father is not dead, he sleepeth — ! [Enter Jona- 
than.) Hist, there, good brother, our father is asleej) ! 

Jon. More like it is a swoon, or likelier, death itself! {(/oes 
to him.) He seems as one in calmest slumber — 
Enter Ahinoam and Merab. 

Akin. What's come to him that ye stand there atiape and 
pale ? 

MJc/i. He came to know me, but his mind was wandering 
like ; he seemed to listen to tlie sounds of David's harp, and 
such a smile broke o'er his countenance as I ne'er saw before ; 
at once did the sinews undo their knots, leaving his body lax 
and trembling ; the tears quenched out the burning in his 
head, letting his eyelids down, so thus he sleeps. 



i:] 

3fer. Say yoii the music did it ? 

Mich. I could see a change ere any word betrayed it ; his 
voice giew tamer, softening to a hush, as though his tongue 
for wont of babbling ran on, wliiic yet the senses waited list- 
ening — ! 

Jon. It is the charm of which the stranger spoke ! O, son 
of Jesse what can pay the debt for this hour's sleep to my 
distressed fatlier? Whate'er thou asketli I will pay the tax; 
aye, though I pierce mv veins that thou mavest drink and 
live! 

J\[ich. If Paradise hath mora of ecstacy than I have now, 
I'd V\-elcoine death, nor stay an hour this side ! This lute hath 
so enthralled me soul and sense, I'd ])ut my heart into the hand 
that strikes it. 

Doeg. (aside.) I -would she gave it me to carry liim. 

Aliin. Thou'rt both of thee grown lunatic as well ! 

3Iev. Sh<} gives her heart and Jonathan his blood, all for a 
little melody that any minstrel can perform — ! Well, I 
would wish I were akin to death, or anything, but son and 
daughter to the king! 

Doeg. This David tendeth sheep, good princess, and thou'It 
not deign a look at me, that art the icing's chief counselor ! 

Jon. The kingdom be accurst if thou art such ! 

Ahin. oee you, he stirs ! Go thou, dear Jonathan, and bid 
the lad continue yet to play. Wait thou ! My lord's awake, 
and looks as he were well ! 

Saul. Didst come to waken me, my queen ? Where is my 
General Abner ;' what tiding brings he of the fight. How 
went the battle, Jonathan ? 

Jon. Good father, the battle's o'er, and it is well with us. 
Abner is with the son of Jesse, a dextrous plavor on the 
har[). 

Saul. Where is this son of Jesse ? 

Jon. He waits without. If tiiat the king hath pleasure in 
it, I will bid him in to play before thee. 

Saul. I have no mood for such diversion now — , I want no 
ciiimes to riot in my ears, till I have filled the hollow in my 
paunch ! 

Jon. He has brought to thee a message from his father — 

Saul. That is another thing thou sayest ; bid him come in. 

lE.vit JONATMAX, 

Ahin. My lord 

Saul. Good wife, mv head has been so racked with horrid 



14 

dreams it makes me glad to sit and look at tlieo more than to 
hear the s\veetest word thou hast. 

Mich. And O! 

A^aiil. Another day I'll hear thy sentence out — 

Enter Joxathax and David. 

David, {bowing before Saul.) ]My father, Jesse, prays the 
king may be restored to health, and humbly asks him to ac- 
cept these triiing gifts at the hand of his so'n. 

Saul. I like thee, and I'll take the gifts thy father sent; 
convey to him my thanks on thy return. What shall I call 
thee by ? 

David. My name is David. 

Said. "Beloved," thy name it signifieth what thou art! I 
say I like thee. If it please thee to l)e the king's armour bear- 
er, thou shalt stay with me. 

David. JNIost gracious king, I am a shepherd by vocation, 
and know not of tlie duties thou assigncst me; but if it ])lease 
the king, send thou unto my father, so shall 1 by his leave 
forsake my sheep and be a servant unto thee. 

Mich, {aside to David.) Thou shalt be a prince — and not 
servant ! 

Said. Thou hast spoken as becomes a son, {n-rites) Doeg, 
haste thou, and bring this message to Jesse, at Bethlehem. 

Doeg. Is he thy neighber, Saul ? 

Saul. Begone, thou evil counsellor! Thy tongue hath 
stung rae to the quick ! 

Doeg. {aside.) It can sting and it can charm thee, too. 

[^E.vit Doeg. 

Ahin. Come now, my lord, the banquet is prepared, and 
thou hast need of it. 

Said. I have a riddle for thee, queen — ! What doth a ram 
love, that Saul loves ? 

Merab. I think that thou and lambs love milk. 

Saul. Not so, rams feed an herbage, men on meat ; guess 
thou, my queen. 

Ahin. I can not think of anything a king coidd love in 
common with a sheep ! 

Saul. All give it uj) ? 

Merab. We give it up. 

Mioli. See here, o;ood mother; rams love the ewe, and doth 
not Saul hn'e you ? 

Saul. Ilight, right, ir.y child ; thou'st guessed it fairly. 

Ahin. It is a wittv sire that maketh a wittv child ! 



Jon. Good, good ! Give ns another, father ! 
3Iich. Father, I's-e one for thee. 

Said. Be instant, then; hunger hath teeth, and she is 
gnaM'ing me ! 

Jlich. What is it that sheep love, and you love, and I 
love ? 

Saul. It must be eating, child. 
Mich. Nay, that's not it— 

3femb. It must be self, since thou and the king both love 
Michal — I knvnv not how it might be with the sheep— 

3fich. Thy jealous pate maketli thee almost a simple in thy 
talk! 

Saul. I give the battle o'er — 
Ahin. Hasten your answer, child ! 

Jfieh. The sheep, and father, and I, love- 
Why, can't you see it now "' 

Saul. Who do vou love; out with it, chick ! 
3Iicli {(/ohig). Ave, that's the riddle I would have you 
o-iiess- ! [E'^-'^ ]MiCHAL. 

Ahin. Let her blushes cover her retreat ; I verily believe 
she hath the ])assion on. 

Mcrab. It must have been a most acute attack I 
Jon. I think she has it in the natural way — 
Saul. All the more likely to prove fatal! Xow to the feast. 
David wilt take the princess Merab ; come queen! Jonathan, 
go And the riddle for thv consort, and join us presently. 
[EvM Saul, Ahix, David, Merab, r, Jonattiax, l. 

Enier Michal. 
M/c/j. See what a plot is that! I must be wondrous dull 
if I've not cunning to unmake the tricl< ! {calls.) Merab! 
Sister ! 

Re-enter Merab and Da A" id. 
Go thou below, sister ; there's si)ecial company for thee, 
(rf.sK?r) be sure there ib! 

Mera/x Special company! It must be Adriel, my beloved 
Adriel ! Take thou the princess :\Iichal in my stead, we'll 
shortly join vou in the banquet {going). O, Adriel, how 
pleased and blest am I. {.Exit Meeab. 

'Mich, {taking David's ann). It were unfortunate for you 
my sister's ])lace liad not more charming substitute. 

^ David. Kind |)rincess,either your company were condescen- 
sion the king did err to ask of thee ! 

M/c/i. The gratitude we owe makes all of us thv debtors, 



IG 

tluTt't'orc tliv slaves ; coniinaiul me, see how willing^ service I 
will lend I U'^-^'^ MiCHAL and David. 

Enter Merab ami JoNATHAX. 

Mcrab Tliat was a clever game to get me off on thee; I'll 
remember it of her. 

Jon. Only a mischievous device; I'd not s})eak of it 
again — 

Merah. 'Twoukl make her merry if she saw me vexed; I'll 
not mention it, be sure ! [Yjxit Merab and Jonathan. 
Enter DoEG. 

])oe(/. The king hath got a devil in him, but my devil hatii 
a grip on the king's devil ; now plague my skull, but I will 
feed my devil on sin till he be gorged with hell, ere I let Saul 
get out of these two clutches! I have him down and intend to 
keep my heel on him ! I took the message to the old man 
Jesse, — not on the parchment as the king would have it, — 
but by word of mouth, as though I ran in haste to fetch it 
him. I said the king had need of soldiers and at once three 
brothers rose and Jesse bade them go with me. I spoke of 
David's having played upon the king's distemper, and the 
king desired him to stay till he be strong; he answered, 
Tell the king I grant him my three sons for battle, and Da- 
vid till he ])e restored to health. The God Almighty is with 
this David ! I know it by the hell that burns, ten thousand 
times more hot when he is nigh. He is the neighbor, and 
Samuel hath an eye on him ; the king's pretty daughter hath 
an eye on him too; Doeg's an eye on the whole of them — ! 

Enter Jonathan and David. 

Jon. Didst take the message and gotten back so soon ? 

T>avkl. What said my father ? 

Doeg. He said though shouldst stay until the king be quite 
restored ! Three of thy brethren are enlisted in the kiny:'s 
army — 

l\ivid. My three brothers to battle ! Knowcst thou their 
names? 

Doer/. Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah. 

Jon. Surely, tiiou canst stay if these be gone? 

David. Who, then, will keep the sheej)? I can no longer 
tarry after the king recovereth, if that his Goodness grant me 
leave to go — 

T)oef/. I will convey the message to the king? 

[Exit Doeg. 



17 

Jon. David, beloved of my licart, I grieve to liave thee g;o! 
The eurse that rested on oiir lioiise removed when thou didst 
enter; what, then when thou'rt gone henee? 

David. Be not sorrowful for this, good prinee ; the Lord 
will care for those who ))ut their trust in him. If, bv the 
music of my harp, the evil spirit hath departed from thy 
house, the g;lory of it belongeth unto (xod ! 

Enter Mr'HAI.. 

iNI/c/j. O, that ungodly Edomite hath told a lie to nie, — he 
said that when our father shall be well, David will leave the 
palace — ! 

Joii. 'Tis true our friend must leave us; his father hath 
sent a message granting him leave to stay only so long as that 
the king be quite restored to health. 

Mich. It will be many moons ere all this evil can be done 
away ; so dread disease must needs effectual cure, and who can 
tell in such like hastiness, if his rec )very bo per.uanent? I bid 
you seek my father and lay this matter straight way as it is ; 
say thou, dear Jonathan, that David's presence is necessarv to 
the king from day to day. Is it not so ? 

Jo7i. I read thy heart in every word thou'st uttered, and 
mine is likewise tempered, but true it is, the king hath little 
need of a physician even now — 

Enter D()E(4. 

What says the king ? 

Doeg. He cursed me for the asking, and crooking up his 
ambidextrous arms, bade me to stan(l a pace or so away, and 
calculate my answer from their double weight, ere I would ask, 
how is thy health, good king ! 

David. Then I have little need to tarry longer. I will see 
the king and take niv leave this verv night — ! 

M/cA. (aside). O, that myself were covered to the eyes 
with fell disease, that I might take this doctor's treatment. 
{to David) I pray thee do not go, for night will overtake 
thee on the way, and wolves devour thee — ! 

Dav. Kind lady, do not fear when I am gone, there is One 
who watches me and will not suffer any harm to come — 

Jon. Doeg, why standest thou in such uneasy fashion ? If 
thou hast more to say, say on. 

Doer/. 1 asked the king about this harp player ; he bade 
me say of David, that if the old man wanted him to run his 
sheep, thou shouldst dismiss him as the king's armour 
bearer ! 



18 

Mich. 'Tis much to be deplored, mv father's words should 
have so vile a mouth-piece. 

Jon. We'll take our orders from the kino^, thou hawk of 
impudence ! 

Doefj {aside) It were better to be a hawk than not to be a 
bird at all. Ha, ha! [Exit Doeg. 

Mich. Thou wilt not t^o so soou, David ? 

J)aiHd. I must uot not stay, however much I would. Peace, 
love aud joy be with thee, princess ! 

[E.rit Jonathan and David. 

Mich. There g;oes my heart, if ever such a thing warmed 
in my breast ; but 'twere as though 1 hung a jewel on his 
back in secret fashion, — the while the multitude behold the 
gaudy gem, he walks unconscious of posession. I'll have him 
back, and put a mark where I have set my mind, {ca/fs) Da- 
vid ! O, what a hoyden love hath made of me. (calls) David! 

Elder Da -id. 

David. Did your voice speak my name, lady ? 

Mich. Come l)ack, I would not have thee go till I have 
trimmed the hand that made my father well, {puts on ring). 
Take thou ihis little gift, it speaks a daughter's gratitude ! 

Davie. Thanks, princess ; I'll wear it for the sake of her 
who loves her father [goiiu/). 

Mich. Thou'rt going so ? [aside) Better that he were over 
fond, for tis a woman's joy to check a lover's rudeness. Why 
in such haste to get away? Hast thou no wish, no little 
sweet desire, which I might grant thee ? 

David. I am an alien in the king's domains ; I have no right 
to wish for anything. 

Mich. Wilt thou accept what I may offer thee ? 

David. I do not merit kindness such as this, — but what 
thou givest me I will accept. 

Mich. Thou'lt* think me bold — but I would set a seal upon 
thy lips no other love shall break — ! (kisses Jiim.) 

David. O, that I were exalted for thy sake — (e/oing.) 

]\Lich. Only to grow more fond, no wishes make — 

Deivid. Mute grief doth oftenest make the heart to 
ache— \_E.Yif David. 

Mich, (throwing hiss.) I hate the thing I am, but still would 
go on hatintr of mysc^lf for such another j^arting. (), if Mer- 
ab saw it she would raise lun- hands till they were bloodless 
with astonishment. What will be the issue of this <lay's 
deeds to me ? I needs must have what I have set mv roval 



19 

seal upon. I'll mike inv father o;onnn'in(l with devotion, run 
to his every beck ; anti(np:iteere he shall think to want/and get 
him in a merry mood with me ; wb.en I've occasion speak mv 
David's name, and win on him till I have gained niv suit. 

(E.rn(nt. 

ACT III. 

SCENE I.— Valfn/ of FAxh. 

Enter Jonathan and Abner. 

Jon. Dost thou await the king's order, Ahner, before thou 
wilt march against the Philistines? 

Abncr. The host encam|)ed on yonder mountain side, is' as 
the dead had risen since Adam's time, — there is no count can 
number them ; rank after rank of mailed men with glittering 
shields, helmets, spears and battle axes ; lines of laden drom- 
edaries, chariots of golds, and for the monarch's safety, giants 
of Anakim; all this against an army of clid:)S and slings, 
and cross-bars, barefooted and God-forsaken — ! 

Jon. Abner, I never saw thee thus! Thine eye hath lost 
its lustre, and thine arms hang down as though they had nor 
strength, nor motion left ; if all Israel have of thy melancholy 
air, a flock of crows could frighten them to death. Abner, 
bestir thyself! I'll take the front and make this breast thy 
shield? Come, we'll away! Leave ghosts to frighten wo- 
men, a soldier hath no time to parley with them. {Soiuids of 
Goliath's roice.) 

Abner. Heard ye that sound ? 

Jon. When the ground hath heard and trembleth beneath 
me, I should be dead to lend it not my ears ! 

Abner. It is the voice of Great Jehovah ! Gi d we 
our loins in sack cloth, and let our faces cuddle in the dust ! 

Jon. Think you the appalling sound hath reached the tent 
Avhere my poor father is ? 

Abner. I think not he is sensible of anything ! 

Jon. When sawest thou him, Abner? 

Abner. I came from him ere that I met you here. Evcry- 
thino; was readv for the fight. I assaved to move as though 
we marched to battle, but when I gave the order not a man in 
Israel moved. I charged them with desertion and treacher- 
ous intent; they bellowed loudly, "Give us king Saul, if he's 
not mad, and we will follow him !" With this I went be- 
fore the king, laving the (uise ; he stood transfixed nor deigned 



20 

a look at mc. I could not rouse hiiu from his lethargy, and 
when 1 think of" him he seems a man of stone ! 

Jon. Most fatal and j)ortentious news ! The king of Israel 
mad, and Israel's (lod offended ! I find the cause of thy de- 
jection. Enough — I'll take the field, and what a prince may 
"venture in his father's stead, that will be mine to execute — 
((toliath's voice.) The voice again ! more fearful, loud and 
threatening than before! What runneth here? Soldiers, 
apace ! 

Enter Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah. 

Abin. Heardest thou the giant's voice ? 

Eliab. He hath thrown down his gauntlet by the brook, 
calling on Israel for a man fight with him — 

Abner. Saw you the monster roar ? Belike it ib the thun- 
der out of Heaven ! 

Eliab. I both saw and heard him. He is Goliath of Gath ! 

Jon. Of the race of Anak — 

Abner. One of the king's body-guard — 

Jon. The fearful Anakim ! What is he like ? 

Sham. ''His height is six cubits and a span." 

Eliab. "And he has an luilmet of brass on his head, and is 
armed with a coat of mail, the weight of which is five thou- 
sand shekels of brass." 

Abin. " He has greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target 
of brass between his shoulders." 

Sham. " The staff of his spear's head is like a weaver's beam, 
and his spear's head weighs six hundred shekels of iron, and 
one bearing shield went before him." 

Eliab. "And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel ! 
Why are ye come out to set your battle in array ? Am I not 
a Philistine and ye servants to Saul? C'hoose you a man for 
you, and let him come down tome ; if he be able to fight with me 
and to kill me, then will we be your servants ; but if I jM-evail 
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and 
serve us." 

Akin. "And the Philistine said, I defv the armies of Israel 
this day. Give me a man that we may fight together." 

Abner. Who is able to meet this Philistine, saving it be 
king Saul ? 

Enter Doe(;. 

Doeg. The king is sore dismayed and like a dead man in 
his tent; he calleth for Abner and Jonathan ! 
Abner. Let us lose no time in gettiniz' there — 



21 

Jon. — jMy poor, })oor father. 

\_Exit Jonathan and Abner. 
Eliab, Abin, Sham. — Long live prince Jonatlian! 

JSnter Joab, captam in Saul's army. 

Eliab, Abin, Sliam. — Long life to our Captain Joab ! 
^ Joab. — Wherefore art tliou deserted from the camp? How 
came you ont ? 

Eliab. — We were commissioned to aquaint the general of 
the giant's challenge. 

Joab. — What said Abner; had he a mind to take the 
gauntlet up ? 

Sham. — He spoke as though the king would take it up. 

Joab. — The king is mightv, but against the giant he is a 
pigmy matched ! 

Eliab. — He hath a ponderous bulk, but simple doses work 
upon him wonderfully strong, if my young brother David hath 
not lied about it. Here he comes now, ladenlike any other ass. 

Enter David, laden with cheese, loaves and a bar/. 

Joab. — Fair son of Jesse, set thy burden down and tell us 
of thy fiither's health. 

Sham. — First let us see what the old man hath sent us ! 

Eliab. — Empty thyself, nor stand there gaping like the 
mouth of a full bag ! 

David [to Joab). — My father, Jesse, is in health, and prays 
you will accept these ten cheese as a token of his remembrance; 
and to his sons these ten loaves and this ephah of parched 
corn. 

Abin. — Thou hast a brother's heart to think so kindly of 
us—! 

Eliab (eating corn). — So hath a camel, if to carry corn 
which an old man puts on his back, is to make a good brother 
out of him — 

Joab. — Shame thou for thine ingratitude! David, thou 
hast a meditative mood, and such oft giveth token of uneasy 
mind. What troubleth thee, good youth ? 

Sham. — He hath a wound where Eliab struck him. 

Eliab. — A dog can bite and heal with the same mouth ! 
David's a very goodly lad ! 

David. — Good Captain', thou spakest to me, and these my 
brethren, have answered in my turn ; now tiiat I have a 
chance to speak, I own my mind is somewhat troubled. 

Eliab. — Belike he is in love, and thinks on death to prove 
his passion ! 



•>9 



Joab. — I srtv thy jesting is ill-timed uikI out of ])lace ! 
Enter AiiNi:u. 

What, General, from the king '^ 

Abner. — Saul is making pre])arations to attack the Philis- 
tines with his entire army ; he will no longer brook the in- 
sults of the giant they have sent out. 

David. — Is there no man in all Israel who will go out to 
meet Goliath, that the king must needs order out an army 
to attack him ? 

Abner. — I lave ve seen this man that has come up to defv 
Israel ? 

David. — I saw him and heard his challenge as I came 
hither. " What shall be done to the man that killeth this 
Philistine, and taketh the re[)roach from Israel ?" 

Abner. — "The man who killeth him, the king will enrich 
him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and 
maketh his house free in Israel." 

David. — All this to the man who killeth Goliath ! 

Eliab. — "Whycamest thou down hither, and with whom hast 
thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? I know thy 
])ride, and the naughtiness of thine heart, for thou art come 
down that thou mightest see the l)attle." 

Sham. — He would enter the arena for the king's 
daughter! {Lanc/h-s.) 

Eliab. — And tight the giant. Well, that is good ! {Laughs.) 

I)avi<l. — "What have I now done, is there not a cause?" 
When a Philistine and a sinner dare insult and defy the arm- 
ies of tlu! living God, is there not a cause why I should rise 
and make inquiry concerning him ? 

Joab. — Thou liast already nerved my arm — 

Abner. — And placed my feet upon a firm foundation! Sure- 
ly, God that hath brought our fathers out of Egypt, will not 
suffer us to be dismayed ! David, thou hast this matter much 
at heart. Knowest thou a man among us who is able to take 
uj) this cludlcnge ? 

David. — I will go out to meet (joliath ! 

All.— Thou! thou! 

Eliab. — Thou wilt go out to meet Goliath ! (Lcuiffhs.) 

Sham. — He's going to be son-in-law to the king, and we 
will all be |)rinces! A louse uprai the camel's back, but I do 
split myself ! (L(H(r/hs.) 

Al)ner. — Hist, there, and out the way thou camest ! To 
camp thou miscreants! [K.rlf Ei.rAB, Abix., Sham. 



Joab. — Tliou gavcst them good chance for laughter Da- 
vid ; for true tliy words do speak the very fool ! 

Abner. — Not so, I mark them well ! When first I listen- 
ed I l)ethonglit me how and how, — but when I reasoned that 
God did make a pathway through the sea ; and how at his 
command the sun stood still, I know that David, at Jehovah's 
nod, can lay the giant low — 

Joab. — With God nothing is impossible ! I will make 
known thv words unto the king, if that thou standest by 
them ! " 

David. — The Lord hath spoken through me, and can God 
lie? 

Abner. — Go tliou with Joab to his tent, put some some dis- 
guise above that shepherd coat, I would not liave it known 
from whence thou camest or who thou art, till all is over. 

[Exit David and Joab. 

Abner. — Doeg, the Edomite hath a strong hatred to this 
son of Jesse, and should he be recognized as such, the chances 
are that Saul would let him slip for Doeg's counsel. I'll look 
to this, that he be well concealed ! \^Exit Abner. 

SCENE IT. — A room in Saul's house. 

jNIichal [irif/i embroidery). — It seems a year of months since 
David went, and yet, by counting o'er my rings the which were 
given on my natal day, I've had two birthdays since — ^just 
two ; now that is two too many. I must not let another one 
go by till two makes one, and not another till one from one 
leaves two ! Ha, ha ! Now that's a riddle I must give the 
king to guess. I have my father in this way, he thinks my 
sister is in love with David; I know she hath her heart in 
Adriel's keeping, and she hath gotten hold of his. So I say, 
father, if Merab really is in love with David, and they could 
never bear to live apart, would you wring out her life by saying- 
nay to her ? And then he looks as stern,and pooh's at me,but I 
keep on a face that hath no tell-tale in it, and sing or dance 
as though t'were little count how he might answer me, — but 
all the world is in it ! I know not if this minstrel care a fig 
for me — ! But one thing, and then another; the one thing is 
the king's consent, and tlie other — well, I'll not bother my 
head about the other, if I can manage a king, I think a shep- 
herd will not trouble me — 



24 

Enter Saul. 

Saul. — What now, so early, up and at thy broidery, child ? 

Mich, {goes to him). — ]My dear, dear father, see what it is ? 
A veil that I would decorate with my own handiwork ! 

Saul. — And why a veil so gorgeously bedecked, iiast thou 
thought to marry in it ? 

Mich. — Thou hast a daughter who would marry soon, if 
thy consent were gained, and this would be a handsome veil 
for aer — ! 

Saul. — Thyself art sunk of late, and all I hear is sister, 
sister! I marvel when such as thou shouldst put thine eyes 
out to make another beautiful. 

jNIich, — What thiidvcst thou of this minstrel that is so belov- 
ed of her ? 

Saul. — What of the Bethlemite ? I swear she hath a very 
wholesome choice; but where is her tongue, that thine must 
wag so in her cause '? 

Mich, — Merab is so modest, she fears to show her naked 
heart to any ; I pray the(! do not mention I have uncover- 
it. But why thine armour on, good father; art thou straight 
way to battle ? 

Saul. — Thy coying ways would make a god forget himself 
a god ! Yea, to the battle. I came to get thy blessing anrl a 
kiss, Michal ; let me have it and be off! {kisses her) Keep on 
your 'broidery, child, thou'lt need a veil to cover up thy tears 
if I be slain. (Mich, weeps) There, there, no more of this ! 
Sweet daughter, what's thy word. 

Mich. — Good Samuel's prayers will make heaven kind to 
thee ! 

Saul. — Samuel's prayers ! Heaven kind to me ! I say the 
proi)het's lips are black with curses, and heaven's an iron 
vault that I've no key to! 

Enter Jonathan. 

What, hast thou come to hurry up the corse ? So ready, willing 
for a sea of blood in which to ferry over and possess my king- 
dom! I'll not go — ! Away thou dog! 

Enter Abxek. 

Jon. — It is thy general, Abner, with a message from the 
Lord to thee ! 

Saul. — The (iod of Samuel to me a message sent ! Hath 
then a sacrifice been burnt, and heaven opened to smell the 
savor of it ? 



25 

Abner. — Thou knowcst Goliath's challenge ? 

(Jonathan converses apart with Michal.) 

Saul. — Go on — nor ask me k newest thou ! 

Abner. — There has come into camp a stranger, who sends 
thee word, tiiat in the name, and by the help of God, he will 
go out and slay the giant ! 

Saul. — I care not whether he cometh by God or Baal, if he 
do slay Goliath, and bringeth the giant's head into my courts, 
I swear again Mcrab shall be his wife, and 

Mich, [falling at Ms feet). O, king, dear father! Do not, I 
})ray of thee, make such a vow on Merab ; offer me instead ! 

Saul. — What now, that thou'st turned martyr? Tell him, 
Abner, the king will give him his daughter, and make him 
richer than the merchants of Sheba ! Go bring the stranger 
here. \Y,xit Abner and Jonathan. 

Mich. — O, most merciful and loving parent ! Do not, I 
beseech of thee, include my sister in tliy vow, seeing she 
hath already gotten her a love. Say thou Michal shall be his 
wife ! 

Saul. — What, give thee, child, that art my soul's chief 
comforter! Nay, ask it not! The marriage bed hath but a 
month of roses, then comes chilly nights, and after that the 
frost and ice ! I'd have thee dream in virgin sheets awhile, 
for when thou'rt wedded there'll be little time for such — ! 

Mich. — You comprehend me not. I would a sacrifice of 
my poor self, to save another's woe — 

Saul. — Thou art no better, little twig, than the old tree 
thou grewest on — ! Thy bark is smoother, and thy fruit 
more fair, but the same sap runneth in both our veins ; so do 
I know when tliou art compassionate for others good, there is 
somewhat in it, that concerns thyself! Go to your chamber, 
Michal — , not in grief, tut, tut ! I will not go to battle, 
since it is said the Lord will fight for me — 

Mich. — Alter thy vow, good father, and I will ! Say that 
he that kills Goliath shall have his choice of thy two daugh- 
ters. Surely my sister is a thousand times more fair, and 
thou'lt stand little chance of losing me — 

Saul. — I smell the bait thy trap is set with. Chick, and it is 
marvelously sweet and like thyself, but Merab's in the vow 
(kisses her). I hear ap[)roaching footsteps, leave me now, it 
is thy brother and the stranger ! 



2G 

Enter David and Jonathan. 
Mkiial and David exchange (/lances. \_E,vit Micii. 

Abner. — This is the man who woiihl take up the giant's 
gauntlet ! 

David. — " Let no man's iieart fail because of him, thy ser- 
vant will go and fight M'ith tiiis Philistine." 

Saul. — "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to 
fight him, for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war." 

David. — "Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there 
came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, and 
I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of 
his mouth, and when he arose against me I caught him by the 
beard and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the 
bear, and this uncireumcised Pliilistine shall be as one of them, 
seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God !" 

Saul. — Thinkest thou a bwist the equal of Goliath ? 

David. — "The Lord who delivered me out of the pnw 
of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver 
me out of the hand of this Philistine." 

Saul. — "Go, and the Lord be with thee." {calh) Doeg! 

Enter Doeg. 
Bring in my armour ! 

David. — I never had an armour on to me. 

Jon. — The shirt of thine adversary would weigh a hundred 
of it, but this were better than thy maiden breast. 

(Doeg bi-hu/ft armour.) \_E.vit Doeg. 

Saul [pnithu/ armour on David). — Here, turn around and 
set thy belly out ! Abner, draw up the buckle there, and put 
the helmet on. (aside) The Lord will have the ripened fruit 
for his acceptance, and sends me greenish, half-grown, bitter 
stuff; but for as much as I've no better gotten, I'll take tlie 
the thing I have and thank him well for it. See now, thou'rt 
fixed — gird on the sword. 

(David putting on su-ord atfemj^t.s to icalk.) 

David. — Good king, " I can not go in these, for I've not 
proved them." Put them off me. Where is my stafl" ? 

Saul. — And wilt thou meet him with a shepherd stick ? 

David. — W ith this sling in my hand, and a few pebbles in 
my bag, I will go forth to meet the enemy ! [puts off armour.) 

Saul. — "Go thou, and the Tx)rd be with thee! 

[Kvif David and Jonathan. 

Saul. — "Abner, whose son is this vouth ?" 



27 

Abner. — "As thy soul livcth, O, king, I can not tell !" 

Saul. — "Inquire thou, whose son tliis strij)lino; is," 

Abner. — 1 will make inquiry, and anjauint thee of whom 
he is begotten. Art thou not going to Mntness the assault ? 

Saul. — Leave me, and be off, I shall not say what 1 may 
think to do ? [Exit Abner. 

Saul. — The youth's a strano-er say they. What's a stran- 
ger, that Saul siiould send him out to champion his cause? 
What, then, am I become? As I have passed of 
late in my reviews, I've heard the soldiers whisper 
to each other, " He is mad ; the king is mad !" 
And children that were wont to crowd about my chariot 
wheals, kissing their hands at me, now scamper away, crying, 
here's the mad old king ! Am I then crazy ? Better proof of 
it I would not get than this same act of mine, — sending a lad 
out with a stone and sling to slay Goliath ! What philter 
hath he, ihat wought me to such a state, as all my senses like a 
snoring sow, lay dead asleep ! If I am mad I'll let this 
stranger bring me to disgrace, and have the people shouting 
in my ears, God hath forsaken him ! Art thou king Saul ? 
Yea, verrily. Hast thou a kingdom? Aye, aye, a kingdom. 
And wilt thou rule it ? By Dagon, Saul is not so mad but 
he will rule it! King Saul will meet Goliath ! Exterminate 
the whole Philistine host! ! Wherefore this hellish strength? 
Let them come — I dare defy the Gods, let them come ! ! 

[Exit Saul. 
Enter Merab and Michal. 

Mich. — A thousand pities, Merab, that the king shouldest 
thus have named thee in his vow ! 

Merab.— What vow is that ? 

Mich. — Heardst thou not of it ? 

Merab. — The king made a vow and I named in it ? 

Mich. — Thou'rt to be the wife of him that kills Goliath ! 

Merab. — The gods I am ! Why, I am bound to Adriel ! 

Mich. — So did I say that thou wert now beloved! 

Merab. — O, wretched fate, to be the daughter of a king ! 
Would I were a barbarian, so I might dwell in the wilderness 
with Adriel ! (weeps.) 

Mich. — Weep not, good sister, if thou'lt a secret keep, e'en 
on the rack of torture keep it, I will tell you of a way that I 
see out ! 

Merab. — I will the secret, though I dock my tongue to 
keep from telling ! 

Mich. — I've told a lie and now I am caught in it ! 



28 

]\Ionib.— A He ? 

]Mich. — Well, soinetliin<!: very like it ; listen to me, ^Meral), 
I am in love after a desj)erate fashion — 

:Merab.— With Adriel ? 

j\[ieli._With David of Bethlehem. 

Merab. — What, that low-born harp player ? 

Mich. — He plays divinely ! I think sometimes he is an 
anirel from the choir of Paradise droj)ped down ! 

Merab. — A fallen angel ! Satan is a fallen angel ! Away 
with snch ! What has that to do with my concerns — ? 

Mich. — 'Thas everything! Fearing to tell my passion to 
the king, lest he forbid me to encourage it, and knowing 
thou wert pledged to Adriel, [ did not see the harm in telling 
him, thou wert in love with David, to get his notion of the 
suit — 

jNIerab. — Thou wicked and abominable thing ! 

Mich. — Hear me, my sister ! The king was never wroth 
because of this, so do I know he fxvors it a bit, for either one 
goes this way or goes that, I see not how it well were other- 
wise, unless a man may split himself in twain to do it. I say 
the king likes David, that were joy enough, but now my lie 
has met me to my face a hundred tongues to one. 

Merab. — I can not see the point thine arrow fleeth at. 

Mich. — You promise tirndy you will never tell. 

Mewi). — This is the secret. The youth who has 
gone out to kill Goliath, and him thou art pledged to is 
David— 

Merab — Thou wretch, thou worse than sinner to condemn 
me thus ! Doth, then, my father pledge me in that he think- 
eth 1 have heart for him ? 

Mich. — The king knows not the champion is David ! Jon- 
athan disclosed the fact to me, under the ban of silence ; thou'rt 
given to anything, e'en to the devil himself; if he but kill 
the giant, that were deed enough to recommend him — 

Merab. — The Lord make David but a dog that the giant 
may kick over with his foot! I'll not be bound by any such 
decree — 

Mich — Nay, that thou shalt not ! Now what's to do, that 
all this matter may be straight undone ? I have it, listen to 
me, sister ; fashion me up to personate thyself, bangle my hair 
like thine, tie all your finery on me, and put a veil about 
my face. I will be Merab to the king, and so be David's 
wife. 

Merab. — If thou were trucked out in my finery, I'd never 



29 

see a trinket afterward. Send nie a liar and I'll catch a thief, 
so ii^oes the proverb ! 

Mich. — Thon'lt not lend them to nie ? 

Merab. — I'll second no consi)iracy of thine! It shall be 
told our father, who loves and who does not, that he may 
choose between us. But here he comes — now we will have it 
out with him. 

Enter Saul. 

Mich. — Dock now your tongue or I will put my hand uj)- 
on your mouth ! 

Saul. — What, in another wrangle ? 

Merab. — Good father, thou — 

Mich. — Remember your promise ! 

Saul. — What's this you keep you will not tell your keeper? 

Mich.— -Good father wait, and I will tell it thee. 

Saul. — What's done that can't be undone ? 

Merab. — O, fither, that dreadful 

Mich. — Remember your promise ! 

Saul. — Remember nothing when the king commands ! 
Michal I bid thee speak the matter out ! 

Mich.--0, king, dear father, I have told a naughty lie and 
I am sorry for it ! 

Saul (tt.svV/e). — There's something back that pushes this much 
out 

Mich. — I am so sorry that I told you Mcu'ab loved Da- 
vid — 

Saul. — What's that to thee ? Go on— 

Mich. — It was another she loved 

Merab. — Keep to your story, I will 

Mich. — Remember your promise ! 

Saul. — Go to your mother, she will settle it. I've no 
appetite for such a dish of dregs. 

Mich, {crying). — I am so sorry that I told a lie. It is not 
Merab that loves David — 

Saul. — 1 guess your riddle now — ! 

Mich. — Its — its 

Saul. — Michal ! I seethe bottom of the mixture — Michal 
loves David ! Go now unto your chamber and begin to weep, 
love's historv is writ in tears from the beginning; to the end 
of it- 
Mich. — Yes, ftither, Michal loves David, and she wants 
him with all her soul ! 

Saul. — If you want him you can have him, so you leave my 
siffht I 



P,0 

Mich, and M(M-al) [(join(j). — Rcnicinbcr your ])romise! ! 
Saul. — Trust mo for tliat. 

\_Exit Mehab and Mich. 
Tlie rib that Adam lost, must have been soft, indeed, if wo- 
men were made out of it. (cd/ls) Doeg ! The cur liath pleas- 
ure lately, out the sii^ht of me. Doeg, I say ! 
Enter Doi-X!. 

Doeg. — Good master king ! 

Saul. — Run to the camp and bring me word of how the 
duel ends ! 

Doeg. — So, so, good king! [Exit DoEa. 

Saul. — Here, then, I halt, and Ephes-dammin be accurst if 
I could stir a foot to stop this combat! The thought of stone 
and sling, did make me as a Bashan bull for strength — roar- 
ino- I ran, but ploughing in the dust broke off my horns and 
oozed my marrow out. I saw the youth take uj) (joliath's 
gauntlet, and as I looked upon the valley stream, it seenicd 
an endless mouth, its tongue the rippling water, its jaws the 
shores, the pebbles were its teeth, but five of them were out ; 
and thus in all its width and length it laughed, and all the 
valley l)roke into a smile. I turned and fled into my walls, as 
flees the ci'iminal to Bezer! O, fearful state of mortal 
wretchedness, when mirth transformed is to mockery, and the 
inflamed soul like as an ulcerate eye, turns to the darkness 
for relief — {sounch of trnmpeis.) What's this I hear? Music 
at such a time! O, mad delirium that makes'the landsca])e 
into faces — and all the air go singing in my ears — ! 
Enffr Doect. 

Doeg. — The giant is slain, and the Philistines fled to 
Erron ! 

Saul. — The giant slain — ! My kingdom still my king- 
dom ! If I could melt my jewels into wine I'd give it thee 
to drink, nor think the beverage too costly for thy lips, since 
though hast told me my kingdom's safe ! 
Enter Jonathan. 

Jon.- -Here comes the triumphal procession, and the con- 
queror with the head of Goliath in his hand — 

Enter vrives cnid rhr/ins .s/^vgwg, soldiers u-ith tnnnpefs. 

Wives [irith Aiiinoa.m <it fiend). — "Saul has slain his thou- 
sands." 

Virgins (inth MicHAL at head). — "And David his tens of 
thousands." 



Wives. — "Saul has slain hi-; thousand-;," 
Fjuter Abner (ind Da id. 

Virg'ins. — "And David his tens of thousands," 

Al)ner, — King of Israel, the Lord hath [)reserved thv 
kingdom, by the hand of this youth ; with hut a sling- in his 
hand he drew near tlie giant; Goliath disdaining to meet so 
unmatched an adversary, cursed t\w youth by his gods, saying, 
"Come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the 
the air." The youth thus answered him, " Thou eoniest to me 
with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield ; hut I 
come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts — the God of 
the armies of Israel, whoui thou hast defied." This saying 
he ran toward Goliath, asid taking from his bag a stone, slang 
it, and smote the Piiilistine in t!ie forehead, till he fell upon 
his face to the earth ; this seeing the youth leaped on him, 
and drawing from the sheath the ponderous sword cut off his 
head, the which he now ])resents to thee, claiming his just re- 
wartl ! 

Haul. — Whose son art thou, young man ? 

David. — 1 am the sou of thy servant lesse the Bethlemite! 

Saul.— Duvid ! David of Bethlehem ! 

Mich, and Merab. — Kemember your promise ! 

Jon. (drips off" his cloak, sword, girdle, puts on David). — 
Thou art worthy to wear tlie robes of a prince ! 

David. — 1 pray thee do not put me in this shape ! 

Jon,— But thou wilt be the king's son-in-law; a prince in 
truth thou art. 

Mich, and Merab, — Rememl)er your promise, () king ! 

Saul. — Pass on, pass on, and let the crowd dissolved be to 
space; these febrile symptoms show delirium in all your 
skulls. Go out and fan yourselves; if God has done the 
killing, wlio then is great that ye should fawn on him ? 

[Ex^Y solcierH. 

Wives {going). — "Saul has slain his thousands." 

[Ex/f irivcs. 

Virgins. — "And David his tens of thousands." 

\^E.vit virgins, Abxer, David, Jonathan. 

Saul. — "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and 
to nie they have ascribed but thousands ; and what more can 
he have but the kingdom ?" 

Doeg. — Hast thou an eye so filled with mat'rous pus, thou 
canst not see thy neighbor, who he is — ? 

Sail). — David ! The throne to David I 



32 

Doe*;. — He san<>; tliy xonsos to repose, but not a wink of 
mine. iSo much luitli nuisic charm, devils and .sera))hs dance 
together, withal so dissolute they know not who they liave in 
company ; but Doeg's a dumb adder, and hath not sense for 
such likedrunkenness ! 

Saul. — That soul which can not be intoxicated by reason of 
sweet sound, 's a sexless effigy, a monstrous go-between, nor 
tiiis, nor that, is nothing at all. 

Doeg. — Hast thou given out that Merab is to wife him? 

Saul. — 'Twas but a vagary ; I'll not be bound to't. 

Doeg. — The stipulation should at least have showing of hon- 
orable intention. 

Saul.— Whelp ! W^hat d'ye say ? 

Doeg. — Thou acts't the dog, to thus regorge thyself, and 
turning eat thy vomit ! 

Saul. — Scurvile dissembler ! Uncloak thyself, or by the 
gods I'll spew thee from my guts, and make a dung spat out 
of thee ! 

Doeg. — Thou hatest David ? 

Saul. — By the gods, 1 do. 

Doeg. — If thou woulds't have him dead, kill him by kind- 
ness ; say thou a score of heads with this same sling, and 
thou will give him Michal ! 

Saul. — Make it a hundred heads for Michal ! Thou cun- 
ning beast, I'll make a laj)-dog out of thee for this — ha, ha ! 
A hundred heads for Michal ! O, balm of Gilead ; how it 
soothes my soul to think of David dead ! I'll tell it Michal 
she shall be his wife, — yea, that will satisfy my promise ; 
thus will I make roses on her cheek — the while I know a 
worm is in the stem, to blanch and wither them away ! 

Doeg. — But 'tis as natiu-al to die as to be born — 

Saul. — The root will live when all the heart is out. Yea, 
more, — I've seen shoots springing from the rotten trunk, 
where there remained not a sign of life ! 

Doeg. — But of thy neighbor ? Thinkestthou when tlu; Phi- 
listines kill him he will shoot again ? 

Saul. — Neighbor! The word's an ague, making my breath 
in icicles from my mouth's roof, the wliich, when I essay to 
speak, cleaves unto, and freezes at the word — 

Doeg. — Who, then, shall rule thy kingdom, thou or thy 
neighbor ? 

Saul. — I have said it, Saul shall rule it ! By the gods of 
Ashtaroth he shall ! Go tell this David I desire no dowry 
onlv he prove himself a valiant warrior, tit for a son-in-law 



to Saul, and worthy of liis daughter. I send in Abner and 
David sliortly after him — [Exit Saul. 

Doeg. — I'll spread him up a bed of snow, jierfume the 
sheets with oderiferous myrrh, the while he thinks a bride and 
happiness I will be snuffing at his stinking corse. I hate this 
David ! Hate him, because the seed that he grew out of, had 
not two heads in it, and the soil that he grew in, brought 
him not out red-haired. Put this neighbor in my skin, and I 
in his, I'd let him rule Saul's kingdom, so I'd Saul's daugh- 
ter for my appetence. 

"Enter Abner, Joxathax and David. 

Jon. — What hath the king deelaired to thee, he had not 
time to tell his son ? 

Doeg. — Worthy ])rince, he bade me sjX'ak of the reward to 
the young champion. 

Jon. — \Vhat said he of it ? 

Doeg. — 'Twas stated in his vow, Merab should bo his wife. 
Nor was it known that David was the stranger, else would the 
king have made a different statement. 

Abner — I heard the vow, and if he keep it not, e'en to the 
very letter of it, I will not be his General Abner ! 

Jon. — Had the king known David, what then ? 

Doeg. — He would have given Michal in the stead, so much 
'tis told the king she loves the Bethlemite. 

David {to Abner). — Thou art the man that said the king 
would give his daughter, nor thought of Merab had a hold of 
me. 

Jon. — Since it is well agreed, is there no way to change the 
matter ? 

David. — I'll not hold him to his vow, but get me back to 
Samuel at Ramah. 

Doeg. — "Behold the king hath delight in thee, and all his 
servants love thee, now, therefore, be the king's son-in-law." 

David. — Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son- 
in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightl}' esteemed?" 

Doeg. — "The king dcsireth not any dowry," but if thou 
wilt bring him tfii hundred heads of the Philistines, to be 
avengedof his enemies, thou shalt be son-in-law to Saul, and 
Michal shall be thy wife — 

David. — Mv life against seven times the sum if he but ask 
it ! I will adventure for the prize. 

Jon. (to ])()E(J). — Go tell the king what David saith, nor 
come again when once thou'rt out of my sight. [E.tvY D()E(i. 



:M 

I have abhorroiK-e in my very soul lor Iiim, that most mv fa- 
ther doth exonerate. 

Abner. — A most f'aeetious and abominable eur ! I'll make 
the king's apartments my way out and see the message well 
delivered. \_Kvit xVijxek. 

Jon. — David, my sonl is knit to thine. I have sueh heart 
for thee that I am agonized to see tlieethus cast out into a sea 
of death ! Is there no other way to prove thy valor to the 
king, than this of killing men? 

David. — Jonathan, my beloved, be not cast tlown, I will i-e- 
turn again to y(Hi. 

Jon. — Thon'rt face to face with death a thousand times, to 
cleave an hnndred heads. 

David. — He that went out with me to meet Goliath, ;ind to 
slay him, will not snlfer me to perish on the field ; I will re- 
turn to claim thy beauteous sister as my bride. Sweet Michal, 
who hath been my song, and all my heart's best utterance 
since first we met, if heaven were not above me I would ac- 
cept the terms, go out and die, having her tears to lie upon 
my face where 'twere agreed her kisses should have been ! 

Jon. — Here comes my sister with haste of winged feet. I 
wot she knoweth thou and I art met, and that the king hath 
mind of other things. I will away aud give her to thyself. 

[K.rif Jonathan. 
Enter Michai.. 

Mich. — Are we alone? O, make the sun to wait until this 
moment were an hour untimed — 

David. — These arms shall be thy wall of sure defence, if 
thou'lt take shelter in their fold, sweet land) ! 

Mich. — This is the king's palace, and his guards are every- 
where — , but I will take the fortress offered me, nor fear what 
may come after ! 

David { folding her in ann.s). — My wife thou sot)n shall l)e ! 

Mich. — I am not Merab; wherefore this? 

David — Nay, thou art Michal, and thou art mine ! 

Mich. — Doth, then, my father renuMuber his promise ? 

David. — I steal no birds fi-om other eagle's nest, that w(,'re 
not granted me to take. 

Mich. — (), this were joy so instant, and unthouuht, that I 
am faint with ravished delight! And you will never leave 
me any more ? 

David. — I've but a moment now to hold thee thus. I must 
away to bring the price recpiircd for tli\- hand. 



Midi. — Did'st thou not kill (xoliath, i.s it not enough? 

David. — Enough for Mcrab ; not enough for Michal ! 

Mich. — What am I worth mv sister would not bring? 

David. — Thou'rt worth the double what the king hath 
named. I have no gold, and no possessions to endow thee 
with, but what he asketh it is mine to give. 

Mich. — When wilt thou bring the sum, and take thy pay- 
ment ? What is it the king would have ? 

David. — It shall be told thee after I am gone. 

Mich. — Are there more giants to be killed ? 

David. — Xay, Michal, trouble not for this, I will return 
and thou shalt be my wife. Now for the kiss thatsealeth our 
espousal (kisses her twice). Come sweetest, let us lo thy fa- 
ther, and learn the matter straight way as it is. 

Mich. — Knowest thou a luimber two can not divide? 

David. — Three can not be divide by two lest one remain. 

Mich. — What then when two divided is by two ? 

David. — ?s'othing remains. 

Mich. — Then you've not kissed me, and I've nothing got 
for my l)etrothal ! 

David. — Here, then, a trinity of them, so one remain [kisses 
her, taking her in arms). And is this all of Eden I shall ever 
knoWjtolieamid loves oi)eningbuds,drinking()f heaven through 
thy nectarous lips so little time, ere thou shalt give of the for- 
bidden fruit, and I partaking shall be driven out ? 

jNIich — I've heard lovers were angels of perfection 'till 
one married them, and this accounts for it. 

David. — Such occupation makes man to sin, and warriors 
forget their enemy ! Michal, thy hand must lead me from this 
place. 

Mich. — I rather lie awhile in thine embrace. 

David. — But duty calls me, I must obey her voice. 

Mich. — Go thou with dutv, I'd not have thee stay, 

David. — Come, jealous one, and I will show thee duty at 
the shrine of love! lExennf. 

ACT III. 

SCENE I.— Room in David's Pa/are. 

(David phnjin</ on harp and singing, Michal beside him.) 
David. — "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 

and to sing praises unto thy name, O, Most Highest ; 

"To tell of Thy loving kindness in the morning, and of 

thv truth in the night season ; 



-Mi 

"Upoji nil instrument of ten strinjis, and ii[)on the lute, 
upon a loud instniiuent, and u[)on the harp. 

"For thou, Lord, hast made me _i>,lad through thy works; 
and I will rejoice in giving praise ior the operations of thv 
hands." 

Enter Jonathan. 

Jon. — Kiiowest thou, David, thy life is still in peril l)y the 
king? It was not in a moment of anger, as we thought, that 
he Hung his javelin to smite thee, his heart is turned into gall, 
and thou must Hy from here this very night I 

Mieh. — \\ hat, would my father take away my bridegroom, 
ere half a year be ex[)ired, making my face to hide in grief 
of widowhood ? 

David. — "Have mercy u])on me, O, Lord; consider 
my trouble which I suiFer of them that hate me, thou that 
lifteth me up from the gates of death." 

Jon. — Miclial, our father set a net for David's feet, and 
thou wert the decoy to draw liim into it ; he thought not Da- 
vid should have lived to get an hundred heads, and thou 
shouldst still remain what thou hast ever been, his choice and 
prototyije. 

Mich. — He paid the price; what would my father more ? 

Jon. — His life, and he will have it ere the sun shall rise, if 
David get not off ! 

David. — "Deliver my soul, () Lord, for thy mercies sake, 
for in death there is no remembrance of thee, in the grave 
who shall give thee thanks." 

Mich. — Thou growest old for sorrowing, David. 

David. — " I am weary ^vith my groauings, all the uiglit, 
make I mv bed to swine, J water mv couch with mv tears." 

[Exit Dayii). 

Jon. — Whither has David gone ? 

Mich. — He goetli to a secret place to pray. O, what can 
now be done, saving I lay me down and die with David ! 

Jon. — Hear mc ; if thou wouldst save his life, take you 
that image, ])ut it in the bed ; make up a bolster of your goat 
skin, cover a cloth above it, and mIicu the king sendeth his 
servants say thou David is sick; uieauwhile, let him down to 
the ground through the window, there I will meet him and 
further his escape. 

Mich. — My heart is to my teeth. I'll do it ! 

Jon. — Let it be instant dftiie. 

[E.rif Jonathan. 



Mich, [m/iking bed). — This is u sinful artifice, but since uiy 
father makes of me a duckling for his sport, I see not how I 
may be chargeable fordoing after him. 

Enter David. 

David, thou must escape ! I'll let thee to the ground through 
this window, Jonathan is underneath, and he will help thee to 
a place of safety. 

David. — To-morrow I will go to Ramah. 

Mich. — "If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou 
shalt b-^" slain." 

David. — "Set a watch, O L!)rd, before my mouth, keep the 
door of my lips, incline not my heart to any evil thing, to 
practice wicked works with men that work iniquity, and let 
me not eat of their dainties. Let the righteous smite me, it 
shall be a kindness, and him reprove me, it shall be an excel- 
lent oil, which shall not break my head." 

"Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one 
cutteth and cleaveth wood upon tlie earth, but my eyes are 
unto thee, O God — the Lord, in thee is my trust, leave us not 
destitute. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, let 
the wicked fall into their own net, wliilst I withal escape." 
((wee.ps over MiCHAL.) 

jNlich. {letting him from the windoiv). — Be not disconsolate, 
David, am I not my father's favorite, and will he not hearken 
to my pleadings ? When one has broken through a thorny 
copse, it is not difficult to pass a second time; the king hath 
listened, he will hear ao;ain — 

Enter D()E(t. 

Doeg. — The king hath sent for David to come and play 
before him — 

Mich. — Go thou and tell my father Davi<l is sick in l)ed, 
and cannot come. 

Doeg. — 1 see him where he lies, and I will tell the king 
he hath an illness on him. [aside) He playeth sick. By hell 
he dies ere he recovereth. Yea, I will tell the king David is 
sick! {emde) The bed is long enough for Doeg, and wide 
enough for Michal and Doeg. Yea, prettv princess, I will 
tell the king David is — sick. [yZxit DoEd. 

Mich. — A terror rumieth all mv beino; throuiih at sifflit or 
sound of him, and still I listen where I would dispatch, as if 
appall'd by his speech. He sayeth David is sick, but maketh 
pause so long before the sick, as though he whispered under 
breith D.iviil is — not sick. I hive no mind to calculate till I 



;38 

do Unow the kinii^ is satisfied. What if he shall discover the 
deception and make at nie for the deceiving? I am not 
Michal, neither Saul's offspring, if I find not a passage out of 
it— 

Enter Abneii and Do eg. 
Abner. — The king iiath ordered David l:>ronght U])on his 

bed. 

Doeg {going to bed). — David is stark dead ; see how stiff he 
lies? "(takes of cloth.) An image in the bed and David es- 
ca})ed ! 

Abner. — x\n image, and a bolster, to deceive? 

j)yea-, — The king shall set his eves upon the dastard cheat. 

\^xit Doeg. 

Abner. — Thv father will kill thee when he comes I Es- 
cape from him, if thou woiildst save thy life. 

^£ieh. — Am I Saul's daughter and afraid of Saul ? Nay, I 
will meet my father, though he slay me, I will meet my 
father? 

Abner. — I will stay me near, to ward the danger from tin- 
fair young head. 

^yiieli, — Nay, go. The king will cuddle me before he 
strike; 1 say he will. [^Exit Abxer. 

The Creator hath made an enemy for everythiuir created and 
'wainst that enemy a weapon of defense; — lions have claws and 
teeth, fishes their fins, the honey bee its sting, man hath his 
brawny arm, and woman — well, while I've my tongue to stick 
a lie upon, tliat were a dagger keen enough to save my head. 
Enter Saul. 

Saul. — Thou treacherous conjurer, what's this I hear ? 
Cursed be thou, and cursed be the wond) that bred thee, vile 
monstrosity ! 

jNIich. — My father, hear nic what 1 would. 

I^aul. — I'll carve thy (lesh into mouths, and they shall 
s|)eak to me ! 

JMicl,. — If thou wilt strike, here is my heart for thee, my 
flesh for worms ? 

Saul. — Thou'st [)ut it well, my child, for in that region 
where thou sayest, there's naugiit but hollowness, and who 
would dangle in a hole that hath no bottom to it, 's spend- 
thrift and a shack. 

"SUch. — I did not deceive thee, father, but for the love I 
knew you bore for me. 

Saul. — Ijoviuij; and thus dc^cciving? 



89 

Mich. — David would have my life or mv consent to the 
conspiracy. I reasoned, my father would rather have a live 
Michal than a dead David, so 1 did it. 

Saul. — You did it well — exceeding well — hut I'll have a 
dead David yet ! Curse me, ye gods of every kith and kind, 
hut I will have a family funeral, and thou'lt be chief mourner, 
Michal ! Get your eye bladders fuH, get them full, 1 say, a 
wet eyed widow runs the fountain dry, and is the soonest to 
burn. Whither has David fled ? 

Mich. — To Samuel of Ramah. 

Saul {knocks on floor, enter Abxer and Doeg). — Take thou 
a retinue of men and go to Ramah after David. Brino- him 
to me dead or bring hiui to me alive, I'll have him anyway ! 

[Exit Abner and Doeg. 
Come now, thou chouse; I'll give thee unto Phalti, son of 
Laish, to wife. 

]\Iich. — When I shall have gathered up my treasures I will 
go with thee. [Exit MiCH. 

Saul. — When girls are wifed, they are not daughters after- 
wards ! Woman's affections,^like a guardian spirit hover over 
the sepulchre of dead virginity, waiting the flutter of a new:- 
born life, to stir within the grave; blushes and sighs, kisses 
and close embrace, they all are buds that blossom into mother 
love; and woe to her who, watching, never sees the Spring- 
time flowers. 

Enter Michae. 

Mich. — Must I, then, leave these pleasant recollections, 
never to return ? {weeps.) 

Saul. — Thy palace chamber shall be hung with ornaments, 
but the one jewel thou broughtest here, Michal, is left in this 
]K)or room, thou canst not take it back. O, cursed day, when 
I did spare thee from my breast to nestle in the arms of Da- 
vid ! He who hath turned thea to hate thy father, and is in 
league with (irod to seize my kingdom aud usurp my crown. 
Will I not kill him? Say,\vill I not kill him! [Exeunt 

SCENE II.— yl road. 

Enter Saul's sons Melohishua and AHrxiDAi?. 

Abin. — It is rumored among the soldiers that our father is 
mad, and there will be a king selected from among the people 
to rule in Israel. 

Mel. — Knowest thou the cause of oiu' father's madness? 



40 

Abiii. — God liatli forsaken liioi, because of his ilisobedi- 
eiice to Samuel. 

Mel. — Nav, more, the prophet told him that for this sanu; 
cause, his kingdom should be given to another. 

A bin. — Will not our father alxlicatc the tlirone in favor of 
Joiiathan ? 

Mel. — It was expressly said, "Thou nor thy seed shall 
stand before Israel." 

Abin. — Who, thinkest thou, will be the people's choice? 

Mel— David of Bethlehem. 

Abin. — And for this cause our father seeks to kill the 
Bethlemite ? I did not understand his murderous intent, for 
David seemelh a man above reproach. 

Mel. — Our father is not so brain muddled but he hath wit 
to know his rival ; let us be joined together with the king to 
rid our house of this aspirant ! 

Abin. — But Jonathan hath bade us be at peace with him. 

Mel. — Yea, while the wiley serpent coils about his neck and 
chokes the breath out of him. We will not beat peace while 
David is above ground ! 

Abin. — Nay, that we shall not ! Death to the enemv of 
Saul ! 

Mel. — Death to the peo|)l(!'s favorite ! 

[Exit Mel. <nid Abix. 
Enter David (okI Jonathan. 

Jon. — We shall not be disturbed in this locality, so now I 
prav thee open up thine heart. 

David. — ''What have I done? What is mine ini(piity ? 
And what my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?" 

Jon. — "God forbid thou shalt not die; behold my father 
will do nothing, either great nor small, but he will shew it 
me. And why should my father hide this thing from me ? 
It is not so." Has he not bidden thee to the feast ? 

David. — Knowest thou, .lonathan, that after I was (;ome to 
Ramah, the king sent messengers to slay me, but when they 
came before Samuel the spirit of the Lord fell upon them and 
they prophesied. When this was told the king, he sent other 
messengers, and they prophesied; again the third time sent he 
messengers, and the prophesied likewise. Then Saul came, 
bringing the Edomite t(t kill me, but when he came before 
Samuel the spirit of the Lord come upon him in such manner 
that he stripped off his clothes, and lay naked all one day and 
night before God — .«o that it was said of him, "Is Saul also 
among the pi-ophcts ?" 



41 



Joii. — And was not my father jiacified at this ? 
Dfvvid. — He came to me confessing his guilt, and swore be- 
fore God that my life should be safe in his courts, and Michal 
should again be my wife. "But truly as the Lord liveth and 
thy soul liveth, there is but one step between me and death." 
jon._" Whatsoever thv soul desireth, I will even do it for 
thee." 

David. — "Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I 
should not fail to sit with the king at meat, but if thy father 
at all miss me, then say David earnestly asked leave of me, that 
he might run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sac- 
rifice there for all the family ; if he shall say it is well, thy 
servant shall have peace ; but if he be very wrotli, then be 
sure evil is determined by him." Notwithstanding the cove- 
nant thou hast made of thy frendship, Jonathan, "If there be 
in me iniquity, slay me thyself, for why shouldst thou bring 
me to thy father ?" 

Jon. — Far be it fromthee, for if I knew certainly that evil 
were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I 
not tell it thee ? 

David. — Who shall tell me, or what, if thy father answer 
thee roughly ? 

Jon. — "To-morrow is the new moon, and thou shalt be 
missed, because thy seat will be empty." When thou hast 
stayed in Bethlehem three days come to this place and hide 
thyself behind the stone ezel. '"And I will shoot three arrows 
on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark, and behold I 
will send a lad saying, go, find out the arrows. If I say un- 
to the lad, the arrows are on this side, take them ; then come 
thou, for there is peace for thee and no hurt. But if I say 
unto the young man, behold the arrows are beyond thee, go 
thy way. And as touching the matter which thou and I have 
spoken' of, the Lord be between me and thee forever !" 

[Exit David and Jonathan. 

Enter Melchishua and Abinidab. 

Abin. — Our f\ither hath summoned us to the feast, and 
since 'tis said our princely days are numbered, let us be merry 
while we (!an. 

]\[(.l. — True, true, and if, as I am told, David is bidden to 
to i)artake, we may be served a dish the cook has not salted. 

vVbin. — Something fresh ! 

jyiel, — A lobster or a crab, 1 know not which. 



42 

Abin. — Ts, tlion, the king- beside himself again, or can it be 
that peace is made with David ? 

Mel. — Sucii piece as one might get of cheese to bait a dor- 
mouse ! 

Abin. — Thinkest thou our father will make the banquet a 
place of killing ? 

Mel. — 'Twould be a slim repast if there were nothing kill- 
ed ! Yea, I ])resuiue that many a thing will part its mortal 
breath to tickle on his lordship's palate. 

Abin. — I'll run my dagger underneath my vest, and if it 
need more blades than one to kill a buck, I'll stick him to 
the heart with it. 

Mel. — And here's another, whetted to the hilt. Down with 
the traitor, David ! 

Abid. — Long live Saul and his sons. [Kxcunt. 

SCENE III. — Banquet — Saut.'s palace. 

Saul, Jon., Abtn., Met.., Ahixoam, Merab, Mk^h., Abner, 

JoAB at table, Doeg standinr/ by Saul. 

Said. — Jonathan, my son, " Wherefore cometh not the son 
of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor to-day ?" 

Jon. — "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethle- 
hem." 

Saul. — To Bethlehem! How comest he hither in such secret 
way ? Sawest thou him, Abner ? 

Abner. — Nay, that I did not. 

Saul. — Melschishua, my son, Abinidab, sawest thou this 
David on the premises ? 

Mel. and Abin. — Nay, good father. 

Mel. — Thou knowest we lately come from camj). 

Saul. — Hath any knowledge of his coming ? 

All. — We saw him not. 

Saul.--Michal, I heard not any voice in thee. Hast seen 
thy husband ? 

Mich. — My eyes arc running out to get a sight at him. 

Saul. — I'll let the have a sight will run them back ! What 
secret interview is this, thou parasite? Munching my prov- 
ender to fatten of thy ribs while yet thine heart is full of 
damnable intrigue ! 

Jon. — I saw him as he was riiturning from Ramah to come 
hither. H(» said to me, " \jvi me go, I pray thee, to Bethle- 
hem, for our family hath a yearly sacriHce in that city, and 
my brother hath commanded me to be there." So I gave him 
leave, nor thought the king would need him in presence of 
his family. 



43 

Ahinoatn. — Surely he should not be denied the privilege of 
going to his brethren ; thou didst no wrong, my child, no 
wrong. 

Saul. — "Thou son of the perverse and rebellious woman ! 
Do I not know that thou has chosen the son of Jesse to thine 
own confusion, and unto the (ionfusion of thy mother's naked- 
ness ; for as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, 
thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom ! Wherefore 
send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die !" 

Jon. — "Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he 
done ?" 

Saul. — By my soul, thou cursed seed ! What hath he not 
done ? 

Doeg. — He is thy neighbor, Saul ! 

Saul. — "My kingdom to a neighbor !" Umph, for proph- 
ecy, when I've a sword to cut the puny thread by which he 
hangs ! Nay, more, an armed host solid behind me, ready to 
cleave away his head, and grieved he had not one for every 
hand to carry. David must die, and I've determined his 
friend shall kill him ! 

Jon.— What, I ? 

Saul. — Yea, thou that lovest will do it tenderly. 

Jon. — I swear the road to David's life is through my 
blood ! 

Satd. — Then I'll wade through it! Die! (casts javelin) 

Jon.(picklng up javelin). — As I hold this javelin in my 
hand which thou intended'st should have pierced me, so shall 
the hand of David pluck thy scepter up, which in thine hast 
to kill, thou drop'dst at his feet? [Exeunt. 

SCENE IV. — A road — same as Scene II. 
David hidden behind a stone, Jonathan shoot^i arrows. 

Ewfcj- lad. 

Jon.i — " Is not the arrow beyond thee ?" [lad gathers up 
arroir.s.) 

'Enter Jonathan. 

Make s]iecd, haste, stay not ! Take these arrows and this bow 
and carry tlunn to the city. 

(David coming from behind the stone, falls on his face boio- 
ing himself to the ground three times ; rises; JoN. and David 
kiss each other and iceep.) 
" Go in peace, for as much as we have sworn — both of us — 



44 

in the name of the Ivord" we shall not sever tlie bond tliat 
inaketh oui" hearts together. 

David. — "Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, 
horror hath overwhebiied nic ! O, that I had wings like a 
dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest ; lo, then 
would I wander far off and remain in the wilderness." 

Jon. — Michal desireth to take her leave of thee. May 
God of Heaven grant thee safety and restoration ! 

[Exit Jonathan. 

David. — " Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto 
me, for my soul trusteth in thee; yea, in the shadow of thy 
wings, will I make my refuge until these calamities be over past," 

Enter Michal. 

Mich. — O, David has it come to this, [rvceps.) 

David (Wvv'/f// her in his arms). — "Lover and friend hast 
thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness." 

Mich. — Where shalt thou go to escape my father's wrath ? 
Speak, tell me, shall we not meet again ? 

David. — "Thou boldest mine eyes waking ; I am so troub- 
led 1 can not speak." 

Mich. — Hast thou no word for hojie to feed upon, when 
thou art gone ? 

David. — "Lord, how long wilt thou look on? llescue my 
soul from destruction and my darling from the lions." 

Mich. — Thine eyes have rolled skyward, ever since I came 
to thee; now, by my wifely rights, and by the royal ties thou 
brok'st in wedding me, I'll have thee look into my eyes, or I 
will let thee have it out with heaven. 

David. — "The angel of the Lord encampoth around about 
them that fear mim, and delivereth them," 

Mich. — I let thee from the window, saving thy life. Show 
me an angel could do more for thee ! 

D.ivid. — "An horse is a vain thing for safety, neither shall 
he deliver any by his great strength." 

Mich. — Calledst thou me a horse ? 1 would be scxed if 
such compare be made ! Go to thy sheep, or ever where 
thou wilt, I'll to my father. When thou'st a kingdom, Da- 
vid, Michal Avill be thy (pieen. [Exit Mk'H, 

David. — "How are they increased that trouble me; many 
are they that rise uj) against me; many there be which say of 
my soul, there is no help for me in God. But thou, (), l-iord, 
art a shield for me, my glory, and a lifter up of mine head, 
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of 



45 

his holy hill ; 1 laid me down mid slept, I awakened for the 
Lord sustained nic. I will not be afraid of ten thousand of 
people that have set theniselves against nie round about. Sal- 
vation belongeth unto the Ijord, his blessing is upon his pco- 
pie." 

ACT V. 
SCENP: I.— WiMenic,%s of Eajcdi 

Enter SolfUers ami Joab. 

Sol.— Hail! Hail! Hail! 
. Joab. — The priests of God have all been slain, saving 
Abiathar, who has escaped to David in the forests of Hareth. 

Sol. — By whom ? 

Joab. — r>oeg, the Edoniite, by Saul's eonimand. 

Sol. — And why ? 

Joab. — Because xUiimeleck gave David hallowed bread to 
eat ; now it was such as had been taken off a Sabbath day be- 
fore, and it was lawful for the priest, seeing he had been kept 
from all impurities, and w-as in sore emergency; also Goliath's 
sword gave he to David, the which by valor he had rightly 
won. For this Saul hath a massacre of the priests until the 
land of Nob is dabbled in their scarlet ! 

Sol. — Death to the king ! Away with Saul ! 

Joab. — Saul alsoseeketh to kill David! We will fight with 
David against Saul. Sayest thou so ? 

Sol. — Aye, aye ! 

Joab. — Then follow me. \_Krif Joab. 

Sol.- -Long live David ! Death to Saul ! ILail ! Hail ! 

Enter Abxer. 

Abner. — What means this concourse of voices; hath the 
king passed by ? 

Sol. — The king is mad ! Death to Saul ! Long live David ! 

.4.bner. — Hast thou deserted likewise, to make thyself a 
stench upon the earth ? Why, none but men in debt, the 
scullions and the vagabonds, are joined to David. Here comes 
the king. {Soldiers untfer cerisive (/roans.) 

Enter Saul, Doeg, and Melchishua 

Saul. — This is the wilderness of Engedi ! Somewhere in 
these caves or strongholds, David is concealed; look ye all afler 
him. What, Abner, away from thy command ? W hither 
lias loal) tied and left his company ? 



40 

Abner. — Joab liatli fled to David, and these arc after him. 

Saul. — '' Hear now ye Benjaniites, will the son of Jesse 
give every one of you lields and vineyards, and make all of you 
captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds ? All have 
conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me,my son 
hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of 
you sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stir- 
red up my servants against me, to lie in wait as at this day." 

Doeg. — Surely thy servant Doeg will do thee any service, 
Saul. 

Sol. — Thou killer of priests! [hLssea.) 

Saul. — The priests fed David like a God, armed him to fight 
against and to subdue me, to take the kingdom from Jonathan, 
lie who to make another's belly full lays himself out and lets 
the ravens pick away his flesh ! Aye, maketli of himself a ladder 
whereon David may climb; when he hath reached the crown 
will he not kick the ladder under him ? Which shall be 
king — David or Jonathan ? 

Sol. — Long live prince Jonathan ! Down with David ! 
Hail ! Hail ! 

Abner. — Come now and 1 will [)Iace you under my com- 
man<l. \Miere goes the king? 

Saul. — We will go out into the wilderness, explore the 
caves, secure the passes from invasion, and when the night 
falls hie unto tluB place to rest our weary bones. 

\_Exit Abxek and soldiers n. 
[F,xit Saul, Mel., A bin., Doeg l. 

Kilter AiJXER, Jonathan and David. 

David. — Whitlierconiest thou Jonathan to seek me in this 
dreary waste ? 

Jon. — For love of thy sweet life ! 

David. — Thy love surpasseth the love of woman ! Michal 
no more is mine, since Saul is turned from me. 

Jon. — Saul's seal is set on Michal ; she looks not, n(»r de- 
viseth anything that bears not impivss of his sovereignty. 

David. — She thinketli I have mind to be the king. What 
thiid<est thou, Jonathan ? 

Jon. — 1 know the God hath set his eye upon thee, and 
what he ordercth will l)e done, whether men will or not. 

David. — O, flonathan, it must be told thee though it snap 
asunder every tie that binds. Thou who hast been my soul's 
sweet solace, my comforter and my pr(>tector under God, I 
am not what I seem to be; there's somewhat on my head thou 



47 

knowes-t not of — I, David, niii the anointed king of Israel! 

Jon. [aside) — It is he of whom the prophet spalce — saying 
a neighbor. 

David. — Thou turnest from me, Jonathan ! The ground is 
sinking! Hold thou my hands, O Gol, lest I go down into 
desi)air ! ^ 

Jon. — "Fear not, for the hand of Saul, my father, shall 
not find thee, and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall 
be next unto thee, and that Saul also knowerh." 

J)avid.— -It is the will of Almighty God! 

Jon. — I know thou hast not sought it, David, but did 1 feel 
assured it were ambition, my heart still is a servant unto 
thee ! 

David. — Trumpets announce approach — it is my faithful 
Joab and his men. Go thou, beloved, — fare thee, — fare thee 
well! 

Jon. — My soul be with thee, even unto death ! 

[Fixit Jonathan. 

Enter Joab, Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, armed with clubs, 
and carrying trumpets. 

Joal). — Saul is on our trail, whither shall we fly ? 
David. — Secrete yourselves among the rocks, and haste, I 
will do even so. [All secrete themselves.) 
Enter Saul, Abner, Abinidab, Melchishua and Doeg. 

Saul. — There is no telling of the night before hand ; some- 
times a ruddy sunset maketh a black to-morrow — but as I 
see it looketii like fair sailing. Well-a-day ! {throws hhnscJf 
down), strip off my sandals, Doeg, and lay alongside here to 
prop my head ; another day we'll run the devil in a crack, 
and get his tunic for a pillow, {lies doiim.) 

Abner (to men). — Thou'lt keep thy arms about thee, ready 
the instant for attack; sleep now, a hundred men are sta- 
tioned at the pass. 

Abin. — These crevices are full of snakes! 

Mel. — Very like they will lay hold of thee, Abinidab, 
they have a hankering after mutton. 

Doeg. — Let a slimy legion of them sprawl on me — I'm ofi". 
{all sleep.) 

(David com "x forth boldly, Joab and men caidiou^ly.) 

David. — " Behold the fjord hath delivered mine enemy in- 
to mv hand." What is David that he should send a soul to 
God unbidden? This is the parent of my loved Michal — 
Saul, the anointed king of Israel ! t-have no wish to rob thee 



48 

of thy breath, nor will T do it. I will cut off this garment 
that he may know my hand hath been upon him, n(»t as an 
enemy, [cuts of skirt.) 

Joab. — Bid us slay him and thou shalt enter Jerusalem a 
king ! 

David. — "The Lord forbid that I should do this thin<^ un- 
to my master." Go bide yourselves until the kini^ awake, [all 
secrete themselves.) 

Saul {umh'ing , see^ himself). — Abner, eome hither! 

Abner. — What says the king ? 

jSIel. and Abin. — Our father spake. 

Saul. — What's this that's eome upon me ? My skirts are 
eut ; I am a reproaeh to all of my j)eoi)le ! Doeg, has thou a 
shears to clip me in this plight ? 

Doeg. — Be sure the hand of David is upon thee — 

]\Iel. and Abin. — Very like David ! 

Abner. — Lets to the guanls ; if they be fallen asleep, we 
are entra})ped ! 

[Exit Aener, Mei.., Abix. and Doeg. 

Saul. — Thus shall my kingdom be cut away from me. 

David {coming out). — My lord, the king, [bows to earth.) 

Saul {looking around). — Is this thy voice, my son David ? 

David. — " Wherefore hearest thou mens' words saying David 
seekest thy hurt, behold thine eyes hav^e seen, how that the 
Lord delivered thee to-day into mine hand — and some bade 
me kill the, but mine eye s})ared thee." 

Saul. — Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast re- 
warded me good for evil. 

David. — My father, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand, 
for in that I cut off thy robe and killed thee not, know thou 
and see, that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine 
hand — yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 

Saul. — Thou hast dealt kindly with me, David. 'Mfa 
man find his enemy will he let him go well away ?" 

David. — "After whom is the king of Israel come, after a 
dead dog, after a flea ?" 

Saul. — Behold I know M'cll that thou shalt surely be king, 
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine 
hand. Swear now unto me by the Lord that thou wilt not 
cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my 
name out of my father's house." 

David. — As the Lord liveth thy seed shall not be cut off 
from before me, nor thy name from Israel. {Sounds of funeral 
(I irge.) 



49 

Enter soldiers nnth Samuel'u body. 

Saul. — What's this that takes its passag-e tlirough the wil- 
derness ? 

David. — It is the prophet Samuel — he is dead ! Set down 
the bier, [soldiers set down body.) 

Saul. — Samuel dead! The prophet of God gone dumb ! 

David. — Who shall be like unto him ? 

Saul. — Samuel dead, and Saul still unforgiven ! Come 
back departed soul, lift once again the curtain of thine orbs, 
and let my image be impressed thereon ; open thy sealed ears 
and let my cry be last to vibrate in them; breathe again until 
thy mute lips part, and all the ligaments that go to make u}) 
speech be drawn in utterance of Saul ! [prostrates himself 
loeeping.) 

David. — It were profanity to summon thus the dead ! Bear 
on the corse. \Yjxit soldiers icith body, David after. 

Saul. — He dares reprove me! I that am king refused the 
lamentations to the dead ! He saved my life not that he loved, 
but more to show supremacy ! Is Saul a whelp, that he 
should squat upon the earth and let this cur snarl over him ! 
David compassionate to Saul ! Consumed be my soul within 
the blanched heat of my wrath wherein is forged revenge ! 
Revenge ! ! [Exit Saul. 

Enter Michal, coming over the rocks disguised as shepherd lad. 

Mich. — Three weary days and nights have I been wander- 
ing in this dismal wild to get a sight at David, with shep- 
herd crook as though I followed goats. I've passed my father 
and my brethren, Abner and all his host. I know the 
Ijord of Heaven is with David, and he shall be king in place 
of Saul ; though I be wife of Phalti I'll not stay with him. 
David will be king and I shall be his queen ! Saul must not 
live, nor Jonathan, if I would reign with Dnvid. I have a 
scheme will put them from the throne. I overheard my 
father calling the spirit of dead Samuel to come. I'll make 
him to appear and put my logic in his ghostly conversation. 
But yonder comes my husband, I must not have him see me, 
nor his men, if I would would work what I have ta'en to do. 
[secretes herself.) 

YsTiter Da' id and Joab. 

Joab. — Art thou assured that still the king pursneth ? 

David. — Of ver.y truth there is no place for me in Israel ; 
twice have I spire;! his life an I sfill he hateth mo. I have de- 
termined to join th(> Philistines, and meet him on the Held of 



50 

Gilboa, there let the Lord (lecicle between us who .shall live. 
Joal). — Whithersoever thou g-oest, 1 will Ibllow thee. 

\_Exit David and Joab. 

MiC'iiAi. coming out. 

Mieh.— David with the Philistines ! Battle at Gilboa! I'll 
tell the king he will be slain in battle, and sooner than 
fall by any's sword he'll be a ent-throat unto himself! It is 
a wicked plot against one's father, but saying death is surely 
not to kill him, tliough I have heard to call a child by fool 's 
the way to make him one. 

Enter D()E(;. 

Doeg. — Saw you the king or any soldiers pass ? 

Mich. — I saw the body of a dead man passing by, and 
others weeping over him. 

Doea:. — That was the king ! Hast thou a knowledge of 
this country ? 

Mich. — My goats are on the mountains, and I run with 
them. 

l^nter Abner. 

Abner. — Doeg, where is the king? 'Tis rumored Da- 
vid has joined himself to the Philistines and they are march- 
ing to attack us. ^^'hat lad is this? 

Mich. — Only a minder of goats, good sir. I saw the king 
a little while ago, and he M^as calling on a spirit of the dead; 
if any seeks such spirit there lives a witch at Kndor who will 
bring them up. 

Abner. — The witches arc banished from Saul's kingdom — 
not one remains ! 

Doeg,— Mayhap she hideth in a cave ! 

Micli (goinf/). — Yea, thou speakest truly, she hath abode at 
Endor in a cave. [Exit Mkiial. 

Abner. — The Hebrew monarch will not hear to heaven, and 
will he bend to counsel with a witch ? 

Elder Savi., Melchishua, Abixidab. 

The king is sorrowi'ul and heavy browed ! 

Abin. — The Philistines arc upon us and David has fled to 
join them in battle agiiinst Israel ! 

Abner. — VVlio, then, shall help, seeing GikI is against us? 

Mel. — The j)riests are slain — 

Saul. — Curse them, so they be! Tell me, my General Ab- 
ner, tell me, am I losi ? Must i go down to hell? {/(dls on 
knees) (), (iod, I th;it am imaged in thy likeness, j)ity me, for 



51 

thou canst pity, and thou canst save ! See mc, a worm formed 
in the womb of incest and pollution, oblivious and irresponsi- 
ble for origin, thrust in the world by no compact of mine, 
shall I, must I be damned ! The brazen vault sends back 
my words, " be damned." O, Samuel, where hath thy spirit 
room, that thus thou leavest me alone ? Can death so calci- 
fy the soul it hath not tears for huuian agony, nor breath of 
pleading for a wretch condemned ? Despair is here, and ut- 
ter hopelessness has come ; let them spread on the [)all — my 
soul is dead ! {falls on (/round.) 

Abner. — Say not so, good Saul, there yet is ho[)e ! 

Saul. — What hope? {rm's) Show me hope ! 

Abner. — Bid these go watch the pass, and I will show it 
thee. 

Saul. — Go thou, my sons. Doeg, stay here, there's noth- 
ing left of me when thou art out ! 

Doeg. — I will not If'ave the, Saul, alive. 

Saul. — We'll die together, faithful ! What now, Abner ? 

Abner. — Thou calledst Samuel to help thee — 

Saul. — Samuel is dead, indeed ! 

Al)ner. — It hath been told us by a shepherd lad there livetli 
a witch at Endor who hath power to bring dead spirits back! 

Saul. — Are not the witches banished from my kingdom ? 

Abner. — She hath concealed her presence in a cave ; let us 
aro to her, and find bv Samuel's words what is decreed to come 
to j^ass. 

Saul. — " Show me a woman with a familiar spirit that I 
may go to her, and inquire of her." 

Abner. — We will <lisguise ourselves, and under the cover 
of uigiit go secretly to her cave. 

Saul. — Doeg, come thou, the king is impotent without thee. 

\^Exeunt. 

SCENE U.—Cave at Emhr. 

(Mic;hal disguised as a loitch — A sei^ant loho personates 
Samuel — A bed.) 

Mich. — I have given thee instruction what to say. Vanish 
until such time as I shall call thee up. lExit Sp]RVANT. 

Mich {stirring herbs). — The king is on his way, — a father to 
a daughter for his sentence ! I have taught my servant what 
of Sanniel's words I've heard the king rehearse ; if he shall 
know me, I'll disclose my purpose, and throw my sin upon 
his mcrcv ! 



52 

Enfer Ahnek, Doec, 8aul. 

Abiier. — Ilast thou the power to bring tlic dead alive ? 

Mich (witch). — I have a spirit, but since the king hath or- 
dered death to us, I will not hear it wlien it speaks. 

Saul, — "I pray thee divine unto nie by the familiar spirit, 
and bring him up whom I shall name to thee." 

^\'it('h. — " 15(^hold thou knowest what Saul hath done, how 
he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wiz- 
ards out of the land. Wherfore then layest thou a snare for 
my life, to cause me to die ?" 

Saul. — I swear, "As the Lord liveth, there shall no pun- 
ishment happen to thee for this thing*" 

Witch. — "Whom shall 1 bring up unto thee?" 

Saul. — " Bring me up Samuel." 

{(rhost rises and falls again.) 

Witch (o'/t'.s aloud in fright). — " Why hast thou deceived 
me, for thou art Saul !" 

Saul.—" Be not afraid ; for wliai sawest thou ?" 

Witch. — "I saw gods ascending out of the earth." 

Saul.—" What form is he of ?" 

Witch. — "An old man cometh up, and he is covered with 
with a mantle," 

[Savl. perceiving it to be Samuel bows to earth.) 

Ghost. — "Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up?" 

Saul. — "I am sore distressed, for the Philistines make war 
against me, and God is departed from me ; he anwereth me 
no more, neither by pwphets nor by dreams, therefore I have 
called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what 1 
shall do." 

Ghost. — " Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the 
Lord is departed from thee and become thine enemy? Tlu^ 
Lord hath done to him as he spake by me, for he liath rent 
the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, 
— even David." 

Saul. — And why ? 

Ghost. — " Because thou obeyedst not tlui voice of the F^ord, 
nor executed his tierce wrath upon Amalek. Moreover, tlu; 
Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into tlu; hands of the 
Philistines, and to-morrow thou and thy sons shalt be with 
me." 

(SAUE/ffZ/.s to the floor.) 



53 

DoGo;, — He is fallen in n faint, for he has not taken food 
neither yesterday nor to-day. 

(Michal to Saul.) 

Witch. — " Behold thy hand-maid hath obeyed thy voice, 
and I have put my life into my hand, and have hearkened 
nnto thy words, which thou spakest tome; now, therefore, 
hear me, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee to eat, 
that thou mayest have strength when thou goest thy way." 

Saul. — Whither has Michal come thus to plead with me? 
(rises) Where, then is Michal ? 

A hues. — None save this woman hath spoken to thee, Saul ! 

Saul. — It is thou that spakest in my daughter's voice? 

Abner. — Come now, good master, eat and get of strength. 
The king of Israel must not at Endor, in a witch's cave, give 
o'er to death. 

Doeg. — King Saul is brave and will not be affrighted by 
the babbling of a ghost, 

(SAUii «;ts' — all partake.) 

\_Exit Saul, Abner, Doeg. 
Mich. — O, what a pain was there to see my father thus ! 
But I've not killed him. What, either great or small, have I 
to do with de;ith ? A mortal's word against the high author- 
ity of heaven ! Nay, I've not killed my father ! [Exeunt. 

SCENE III.— Battle field at Gilboa. 

Enter Jonathan armed for battle. 

Jon. — When one is met to fight an enemy, keen rancor 
whets the appetite ; but when unwilling circumstance brings 
friend to friend, that were more sorrowful event 
than to have died before hand. David, involuntarily we 
meet at Gilboa ! If I must die, I pray thine eyes may be de- 
prived the sight of it. Heaven will be our place of meeting 
afterward, and none shall break the bonds, since it is love 
that binds us heart to heart. 

Enter Saul, Melchishua, Abinidab, Doeg. 

What comes my father in his armour? And these my breth- 
ren prei)ared for battle. 

Saul. — I am come ! 

Jon. — Thou seemest more the Saul of other days, than 
him of yesternight; courage sits throned where remorse had 
seat, and like a very conqueror of earth, I see thee father! 

Saul. — Jonathan ! My sons ! This is the last day in these 



r>[ 

fleshy tenements — our souls move out to-morrow. Hast thou 
bethought where thy lone spirit shall have residenec ? Is 
there a vacant place in that great liome where God's the 
fatiier ? Hast tiion accepted offered mercy, and is thy name 
writ with the sanctified ? Then look your last on Saul ! For 
an earthly sovereignty I turned from heaven, and when I 
would have entered the door was shut ! 

Doeg. — Shall we not kill ourselves and save our enemies 
the joy of doing it ? 

Jon. — He that would take his life 's coward to men, and 
braves the ])ower of Omnipotence ! 

Saul. — Nay, I'll not die 'till I have sent a legion on ahead 
of me; though I have heard he that goes down to hell liatli 
company enough ! Shall David then be king ? Come to my 
soul, ye malice of the damned ! Make my fllesh brimstone 
and my blood fire to run amongst it ! Let me be consumed 
by God's malignity, only for joy of spoiling Heaven's fa- 
vorite ! [Exit Saul. 

Jon. — We are piu'sued ! 

Abin. and Mel.— Whither shall we flee ! 

Doeg. — To death and perdition ! 

[Exit Jon. Mel., A bin., Doeg. 

Enter Soldiers. 

Soldiers.— Death to the king! Hail ! Hail ! 
Joab. — The kingdom of Israel shall be established in right- 
eousness ! 

Sol.— Hail ! Hail ! 

Enter David. 

Joab. — Saul and his sons are all arrayed with Israel. 

[Exit St)ldiers, Joab, 

David. — O, Jonathan, why camest thou hither with the 
king to die ! Let me not strike the house of my friend to 
make it fall ; such end as Heaven decreeth let them all come 
to ! Jonathan, beloved of my soul, what is thy destiny ? 
When man surrendereth unto God, saying, ''Thy will be done," 
what right hath he to question after it? Will the Almighty 
turn his Infinite course to save a mortal's breath, or show a 
mortal's grave ? Nay, if he die it is the will of Great Je- 
hovah ! [Exit David. 

Enter Saul's sons pursued by Soldiers. 

Soldiers. — Down with (he house of Said! 

(Jonathan, Mel., AmN\., all slain.) 



00 

Sol. — Death to the sons of Saul ! Death to Saul ! 

[Exit Soldiers. 
Y.ntcr Saui. and Dof:g.. 

Saul. — I am sore wounded, but I can not die ! Here are 
my sons all slain ! O, Jonathan, thou wast too good to keep 
thy father's company! Our spirits part, thine to Samuel, 
mine, God knows where ! ! "Doeg, draw thy sword and 
thrust me through thei'ewith." My flesh shall eonipatiy these 
begotten, though ever more our souls be separate ! 

Doeg. — I can not take thy life, O, Saul ! 

Saul. — This blade hath })roved a trustier friend than thou ! 
{fallii upon /lis sword — dies.) 

Doeg. — Saul dead ! What then hath Doeg but to die ! 
(stabs himself — dies.) 

Enter Soldiers, Juab, Mich. 

Soldiers. — David of Bethlehem, king of Israel ! Hail ! 
Hail!! Hail!!! 

CURTAIN. 

THE END. 




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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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